[04/06/01] A physician who served Vicksburg for more than half of the last century, Dr. William K. “Bill” Purks, died Thursday, April 5, 2001, at Vicksburg Medical Center, a facility he helped found. He was 95.

Dr. Purks was a native of Greensboro, Ga., and grew up in Madison, Ga. He came to Vicksburg in 1934 and associated with the Vicksburg Hospital and Vicksburg Clinic.

He was a graduate of Emory University and received his medical degree from the Emory School of Medicine. He served his internship and residency at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and was assistant medical resident at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Mass.

“He came to our clinic as an internist when there were only three men there, my father and Dr. Parsons and he (Purks) was the third man,” said Dr. I.C. Knox, Jr., the son of the late Dr. I.C. Knox Sr.

Dr. Purks went on to serve as chief of the medical service and chief of staff from 1962 to 1975. He was president of the board of directors from 1962 to 1980. In addition to his association with the Vicksburg Hospital and Clinic, Dr. Purks was an instructor at University Medical School from 1955 to 1982. He also served as medical officer in charge for the U.S. Public Health Service in Vicksburg until his retirement in 1980.

“He was one of the finest internists and cardiologists I’ve ever known,” Dr. Knox said.

Retired financial executive Shouphie Habeeb was well acquainted with Dr. Purks, having served with him on the board of the Vicksburg Hospital when it was locally owned.

“Thank God for his life and what he did for the people of this community,” Habeeb said. “We were blessed to have someone like him,” Habeeb said.

Outside the hospital and clinic, Dr. Purks was a member and president of the Vicksburg Kiwanis Club, a trustee of the Vicksburg Municipal Separate School District for 15 years and its president from 1955 to 1960. He was an elder of First Presbyterian Church and a founder, trustee and president of the Vicksburg Medical Foundation.

Vicksburg’s Junius Ward Johnson Memorial YMCA was another interest of Dr. Purks. He began his association with the YMCA in 1954 when he became a board member and later a trustee.

“He was a strong influence … a strong and a positive influence,” said Y general director Herb Wilkinson. “He gave wise counsel to this YMCA for more than 40 years.” The Y’s new building on a tract of land off East Clay Street will be the William Kendrick Purks Center of the Junius Ward Johnson Memorial YMCA.

Dr. Purks was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Helen Kemper Purks, and a son, William Kendrick Purks Jr.

He is survived by a son, Robert K. Purks of Falls Church, Va., and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Steve Bryant, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Fisher-Riles Funeral Home in charge. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Pallbearers will be Howell N. “Hal” Gage, Sam Corson, Lee Forrest, Bob Pickett, Max Triplett and Herb Wilkinson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. I.C. Knox Jr., Phillip Watson, Dr. George Habeeb, Dr. Charles Marascalco, Dr. Michael Davis, Shouphie Habeeb and Doug Hassell.

Memorials may be donations to the First Presbyterian Church, the Junius Ward Johnson Memorial YMCA or the American Heart Association.