Love Begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a teardrop

Willie's Castle is located in Claiborne county on Cave Springs Road in the Bethel Baptist cemetery. Willie's castle was created by William Daniel Wamsher.  It is a free standing building constructed as a monument enclosing an interment burial chamber or in more modern terms a mausoleum. ?Will's Castle is a fortified visible landmark, a source of pride. Many people cling to the romantic view of the castle complete with a Prince and a Princess.

Bethel Baptist Church dating back one hundred years at the time was a school/church built out of logs.  It was built in 1894 and erected in 1965, May 5, 1956, one acre of land from the J.D. Campbell Farm was donated to the Bethel Baptist Church for a family cemetery from Nellie Lanham Campbell. Nellie Lanham Campbell was Willie's great great grandmother. Willie's grandparents Bill & Faye Lanham are the owners of the property that now surround the cemetery.  It was passed down to them in 1987 from Willie's great grandmother Media Campbell 

William Daniel Wamsher was born August 11, 1981 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Willie was tremendously proud of himself and his family.  His family roots in East Tennessee brought him to live here with his Mother in his great great grandparents old home in the summer of 1997. With his Father being in the military , willie was well traveled at a young age. He developed into a strong individual living states, learning new cultures and experiencing the world.  

He was in love with Kristy, the girl of his dreams. Together they was making life long plans. Kristy& Willie have an extraordinary and special love. Kristy is Willie's Princess, possessing admirably fine and gentle characteristics. She is always pleasantly warm and cheerful. Prince Willie devoted champion of his lady, a defender, born to fight. His dream was to build their home to look like a castle. Perfect for the Prince and his Princess.

Life soon changed for the couple. Willie was diagnosed with cancer.  Life revolved around doctor visits, chemotherapy and later on radiation treatments. Willie never gave up. Long trips to Vanderbilt University Hospital for a Stem Cell Transplant. Willie's fight to live was amazing. His last option was a second Stem Cell Transplant using a donor. Willie's brother Christopher who was serving in Iraq came home to donate his stem cells to Willie hopefully to save his life. The brothers DNA was tested, they were a perfect match. Odds against them, together they prayed for a miracle. 

A young couple with hopes and dreams was shattered on October 4, 2006. Dr. Lee told Willie and Kristy the cancer had spread and Willie's didn't have long to live. Willie begged Dr. Lee to tell him how long he had. Dr. Lee answered you have one maybe two weeks to live.

Willie came home to be with family and friends here in Claiborne County. Family and friends gathered day and night for twenty two days. Prayers were non-stop. There was lots of love and tears during those days. Food was prepared by all who came to visit. An unfinished scrap book was quickly put together. Pictures were passed around, a story to be told with each and everyone. Willie was making final plans of his own. Willie was drawing in a notebook. His vision of the castle for him and his Princess. To create a castle you have to have an imagination and material that will last forever. With help of family and friends it was becoming a reality. It was a time the the past became the present, neighbors helping neighbors honored to be able to fulfill Willie's last wish.

The love story unfolds with the building of the castle. The castle was built on two 5 foot by 10 foot grave plots. with a 9 foot center where a solar cross was place for all to see. Steel doors 4 foot wide and 6 foot tall was install for the entrance of Willie's Castle. The "Wamsher" name was engraved in the header stone placed over the door. A look of distinction was added with a novelty white stucco Spanish lace texture finish.  Lion door knockers were placed on the doors. Leo the Lion represents Willie's birth sign.  The motto for Leo the lion is "TO WILL". Like Willie, Leo the lion is said to be a happy warm hearted individual. Willie and Leo the lion represent the drive ambition and virtually limitless courage Willie had shown during his life and with his long battle with Hodgkin disease.

God is a quiet artist, paints a canopy adds a splash of color for everyone to see. This is the beauty of East Tennessee on a crisp autumn morning, with frost on the ground, his father and the other men gathered with heavy hearts and strong hands working day and night to build Willie's Castle.  No words can describe the natural beauty of the days that followed in building the Castle. Leaves whisper the sound of our past, echoes of grief sung by the wind, flowers vanished with sadness.

Every evening Willie watched the videos of his castle come to life. As each blocked was laid it counted down Willie's last days on earth. Each picture showed a beautiful fall day with vibrant colors and a magnificent sunset.

Willie's life faded away on Thursday, October 26, 2006. Rain began to fall like the tears from the angels. The castle unfinished had to be completed. The men gathered to work in the rain. Final Funeral arrangements were made. Family & friends gathered once again to place Willie in his Castle. His casket was placed in a block vault. Family members put trinkets and the notebook with the plans for the castle in Willie's tomb. A 1500 pound cement slab lid was placed on his tomb and seal for all eternity. A commemorative bronze plaque was placed on the outside wall inscribed with his name, date of birth and date of death. In remembrance, a picture of him was added for all to see.

Adorned in his castle is a Suit of Armor, his swords representing a battle fought but never won. The lion for courage and an angle for what Willie has become. All representing strength and courage of a man who didn't want to die. Willie waits for his Princess to be reunited with him in heaven. Lighting the castle with candles, creates a magical and romantic feeling. Princess Kristy visits his castle leaving behind notes written of love of a time pasted. To honor and respect his courage she places red roses on his tomb to say "I Love you".

A DEATH LEAVES A

HEARTACHE NO ONE CAN HEAL,

LOVE LEAVES

A MEMORY NO ONE CAN STEAL.

Written by: Willie's Mommy (Teresa Wamsher Lanham)

                  August 2007