Willie Frank Paige

Willie Frank (Baby) Paige was born on November 20, 1944, in Utica, Mississippi to the union of the late Frank Paige and Ora Lee Wilkins Paige. He was he sixth child and third son (the baby) born to the union. He confessed Christ at an early age and joined the Morning Star Baptist Church in Utica, MS. He graduated from Hinds Agricultural High School and attended Barber School at Utica Junior College. Afterwards, He married Pearl Hudson his High School sweetheart and left Utica. Pops and his wife Pearl moved to Chicago and lived for several years before being drafted into the United States Army in 1968!!!

He married his high school school sweet heart, Pearl Hudson. To this union, two sons were born, Melvin Dwayne Paige (deceased,2022) and Rickey Paige. After being drafted by the Army, our Dad served his country well as Sergeant Willie Frank Paige in the Vietnam War as he served his 1 year in the military. God took good care of him, and he came back home safely. When he returned from the war, he and Pearl moved to Los Angeles to continue their union but unfortunately moved apart and divorced.

Therefore Willie then stayed in Los Angeles for a new start eventually finding work where he began his career at Ralphs Grocery for 30 plus years and working at Dakota St Elementary for over 25 years with the Los Angeles School District until retiring from both jobs. In between time, Willie and Debra A. Moton met, then born to that union was Dennis Ray Paige in 1972 and they married in 1976. Willie also had two more sons, Joseph and Paul Durousseau, that he raised along with their baby brother Dennis as his own 3 boys. 

They eventually separated in the early 1980's then finally dissolved their union in 1995 officially, while Willie and his 3 sons remained together. During the separation of Willie and Debra the strong bond between brother and sister, Willie and Annie one of his big sisters, Annie Ruth Anderson. Willie moved in with Annie and they stated together up until his last days here on this earth. During Willie's middle years he had started to experience some health issues battling with High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, other complications from serving in the Army such as the Agent Orange Exposure, and to say the least not eating the best. Which is something we're all guilty of at times. Willie's health begin to take a turn for the worst, but fortunately we were able to catch things early enough to reverse the majority of his health conditions giving us another 15 years and half of that completely medication free. Yes, there was some tough times and through the toughest times there were many scares and unknowns, but God Always Made A Way! Annie Ruth Anderson and Dennis took good care of him along with his granddaughter, Sydney D'nae Paige helped in his care as well as his other granddaughter, Tyler Turner in his last years here on earth. 

Willie Frank (Baby) Paige passed on July 14, 2025, at the age of 80. His oldest sister, Frankie Paige Bracey, brother, O.C. Paige ; oldest son, Melvin Dwayne Paige, two brothers-in-law, Emmitt N. Bracey, Sr. and Rev. Cleophus "Pop" Gaines, Sr.; sister-in-law, Ruby Lee Paige; and two nephews, Anthony and Dexter Paige all whom preceded him in death. 

Willie leaves to cherish his memories: four sons, Rickey Paige, Dennis Ray Paige, Joseph Durousseau, III, and Paul Durousseau; two sisters, Annie Ruth Paige Anderson and Madie Paige Gaines one brother O.L. Paige ; twenty-one grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews cousins and friends.