Celebrating the life of
William Percy Briley
October 18, 1938 - September 24, 2008
Tybee Island – William P. Briley, Jr., 69, died Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at his home. He was born in Newport News, Virginia and had lived in Chatham County for more than twenty years. "Bill", as he was known to family and friends, was not only endowed with exceptional intelligence and creativity, but with a love of life and enthusiasm for the opportunities it offered each and every day. He was a man much respected by his peers, but even more importantly, he was much loved by all who came to know him.
Bill obtained an electrical engineering degree from the University of Florida, with honors, attended the system engineering graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh and obtained a doctorate degree at the University of Florida in educational finance. He was a member of the National Engineering Honor Society, Sigma Tau, and was elected to membership in the Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society for Engineering Technology in 1989. He was a Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems.
Dr. Briley was involved with research and development in business, industry, and education for over 30 years. His work ranged from the design of the environment control system for the electronic standards vault at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, to solid state air conditioning systems at the Atomic Equipment Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation at Cheswick, Pennsylvania. His work as a practicing engineer included new systems development for the Westinghouse Arc Division in Buffalo, New York, and the Baltimore Underseas Division in Maryland. Dr. Briley conducted extensive research involving educational organizations and educational finance. He also served as the chief academic officer and a provost and president at several community colleges in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was instrumental in implementing the digital design and manufacturing center at the Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin, Georgia.
Bill also participated in obtaining several patents from the United States Patent Office for high security gun lock devices.
He is survived by his wife Janet, of Tybee Island, daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Vaughn Kimberling and granddaughter, Kristi Kimberling, of Cocoa, Florida, stepchildren, Dick Scarlett and Judge Stephen Scarlett wife, Judy, of Glynn County, Georgia, Jan Abrahamson husband, Al, of Jacksonville, Florida, four step-grandchildren, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Lisa Gray, of Savannah.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to the Humane Society of Savannah, 7215 Sally Mood Drive, Savannah, GA 31406.
Please sign our on-line guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com
FOX & WEEKS FUNERAL DIRECTORS, ISLANDS CHAPEL
I knew Dr. Briley when I was the Lead Instructor at Heart of Georgia Technical College. I hlped him build the Electronics lab, that eventually lead into what it is now. I remember him as a man wise beyond his years, trying to teach a man barely 30 how the real world worked! You couldn't help but be happy around him. He seemed so comfortable in his own skin, so comfortable in fact, that his confidence rubbed off on everyone around him. He was a genius at finding money! You were taught to listen closely to what he said, because he meant what he said, and said what he meant. If it came out of his mouth and he had a very cheerful way of presenting it, it was going to happen! Even if you thought to yourself 'No way!! The old man's lost his freaking mind!!'.. Not that I ever thought that... Well.. maybe once or twice.. My point is, he was nothing short of awesome at what he did, and I'm a better and wiser person for having known him. Even now that I'm at Flint River Technical College, teaching Electronics again, I feel cheated in a way, because I'm not able to call and talk to him about what I'm facing. I'm not sure how to end this, so I'll just end it by offering my prayers to the Dr. Briley's family. He will be missed!
- Terry Novak, Thomaston, GA
I will miss Bill's enthusiasm and passion. His mark remains in the hearts and minds of those he touched.
- Bill, SAVANNAH, GA
Melanie, Kristi and Bill's family. I knew Bill since he was the Star Quarterback at Titusville,FL High School back in the late 50's. I consider it an honor to have known and admired him as a brother-in-law and a friend. He will be missed. May God remember and bless him in the years to come.
- , Greensboro, NC
I knew Dr. Briley when I was the Lead Instructor at Heart of Georgia Technical College. I hlped him build the Electronics lab, that eventually lead into what it is now. I remember him as a man wise beyond his years, trying to teach a man barely 30 how the real world worked! You couldn't help but be happy around him. He seemed so comfortable in his own skin, so comfortable in fact, that his confidence rubbed off on everyone around him. He was a genius at finding money! You were taught to listen closely to what he said, because he meant what he said, and said what he meant. If it came out of his mouth and he had a very cheerful way of presenting it, it was going to happen! Even if you thought to yourself 'No way!! The old man's lost his freaking mind!!'.. Not that I ever thought that... Well.. maybe once or twice.. My point is, he was nothing short of awesome at what he did, and I'm a better and wiser person for having known him. Even now that I'm at Flint River Technical College, teaching Electronics again, I feel cheated in a way, because I'm not able to call and talk to him about what I'm facing. I'm not sure how to end this, so I'll just end it by offering my prayers to the Dr. Briley's family. He will be missed!
- Terry Novak, Thomaston, GA
I will miss Bill's enthusiasm and passion. His mark remains in the hearts and minds of those he touched.
- Bill, SAVANNAH, GA
Melanie, Kristi and Bill's family. I knew Bill since he was the Star Quarterback at Titusville,FL High School back in the late 50's. I consider it an honor to have known and admired him as a brother-in-law and a friend. He will be missed. May God remember and bless him in the years to come.
- , Greensboro, NC
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
