CBS News – A Mississippi man who woke up in a body bag two weeks ago is really dead this time.
Walter Williams, 78, died around 2 a.m. Thursday at his home in Holmes County,CBS affiliate WJTV reported.
His nephew, Eddie Hester, said he told the county coroner, “Be sure this time.”
Williams ,known to family and friends as “Snowball,” had been pronounced dead by county coroner Dexter Howard on the morning of Feb. 26. Williams was placed in a body bag and taken to a local funeral home.
At the funeral home, workers were startled when the body back began moving.
“The mortician said something wasn’t right,” Williams’ daughter Martha A. Lewis told WJTV. “His leg started moving.”
Williams was taken to the hospital and reunited with his overjoyed family. He had another two weeks ago with them before he died.
Family members said they were grateful for that extra time.
“We’re at peace. We know he has fought a good fight,” his daughter Mary Williams told The Clarion-Ledger newspaper of Jackson. “His sister was able to make it into town, and he got to see his last grandchild, and all of his grandkids. That was a blessing.”
Known as “Snowball” or “Snow” because he was born during a rare Mississippi snowstorm, Williams was a lifelong farmer. He was the father of 11, grandfather of 15 and great-grandfather of six.
William suffered from congestive heart failure and had been in hospice care when he was mistakenly declared dead in February. Doctors at Holmes County Hospital said it was possible his severe hypoglycemia, combined with medications he was taking, may have made him sleep so deeply that he appeared to have died.
The story of his unexpected resurrection made national news. Mary Williams said the family was touched by the outpouring of support her father received from the public.
“We really want to thank everyone worldwide for all the prayers and the strength we felt through those prayers,” she told The Clarion-Ledger. “You’d be surprised how many people this has touched in more ways than we can ever put our hands on. This is a testimony that will live longer than we will.”
