William Granville Jr. passed away Thursday, March 2. According to his obituary posted by Hughes Funeral Home, relatives, and friends are invited to the viewing on Friday, March 17  with a Celebration of Life service following.

Born on December 6, 1940, in Macon, Georgia, Granville is predeceased by his wife, Jessica Katherine. His son, William Granville III, survives him, his daughter, Michelle; grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

“I am announcing the passing of my brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. William Granville, Jr.,” wrote Karen R. Hilton on her Facebook wall. “Bill had been ill for many years and was lovingly cared for in the last weeks of his life by his daughter Michelle… He was married to my sister Jessica for over 50 years and was indeed my brother. He was one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever known. He was a great father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He will be sorely missed.”

As a former executive vice president of Mobil Corporation’s Middle East operating division, he traveled to over 70 countries. In addition, Bill shared his acumen after retirement from Mobil by being one of the founders of the Metropolitan Trenton African American Chamber of Commerce.

In 1983, he founded the Granville Academy, a program to educate youth on economic empowerment and business ethics. The program was expanded to include affiliate academies in thirteen cities and was named in honor of his parents. A decade later, Bill and other individuals founded the Fruit of the Holy Spirit Ministry, which operated in conjunction with the Granville Academy and emphasized the importance of moral and ethical values in life and business.

Bill was the founder, president, and CEO of Granville Educational Programs, Inc. In 1998 he founded the Granville Charter School, which served over 500 students and expanded when he opened one of the first Charter High Schools in New Jersey. In addition, Bill was a prolific writer and author of two books, From Gangland to Corporate America (2000) and Say Yes (2008), that touched the lives of many. Bill served as a member of the New Life Christian and became the founder and pastor of the Eternal Life Church in Trenton, NJ.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, March 17th, at 11 am at New Life Christian Center, 812 Prospect Street, Trenton, NJ. Visitation is from 9 am-11 am, with service immediately following. The interment will be private. Click here for more information.