William Wallace "Wally" Bassett

William Wallace Bassett, beloved educator, coach, and community leader, passed away on December 18, 2024, at the age of 83. He was born on March 24, 1941, in Houston, Texas, to the late Grady and Gladys Hardison Bassett.

Wally’s life was one marked by an unwavering dedication to excellence, service, and love for his community. After graduating from high school, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, a promising start to what would be a storied career in sports. Though a significant elbow injury led to his early retirement from professional baseball, Wally’s passion for athletics continued throughout his life.

He attended Georgia Southwestern College, where he lettered in three sports, and later went on to Troy University, where he excelled in two sports, including football—despite having never played the game before. His commitment to learning and his athleticism earned him recognition as a scholar-athlete, and he ultimately earned his master’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Wally’s teaching career spanned decades, shaping the lives of countless students and athletes in the Houston County area. He began as a coach at Northside High School in 1965, where he led the football program until 1972. His leadership and passion for the game were evident, and his influence left a lasting mark on the students and athletes he mentored.

In 1973, Wally transitioned into educational administration, serving as Assistant Principal at Warner Robins Junior High. The following year, he became Principal at Centerville Elementary School, where he would serve with distinction from 1975 until his retirement in 2005. Under his guidance, Centerville Elementary became a trailblazer, becoming the first school in the district to embrace computer technology. Wally’s visionary leadership helped shape the school into one of the finest in the area, and his legacy of excellence was recognized with numerous honors, including: the 1998 Georgia School Bell Winner, the 1998 Georgia School of Excellence, the 1999 National Blue Ribbon School, the 2003 National Distinguished Principal (NAESP), and the 2004 UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education – Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wally was an active member of various educational associations, including the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL), the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP), and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). His work in education extended beyond the classroom, as he also served on the board of the HEA Credit Union, including a term as president, and played a key role in the construction of their new credit union building. Wally was also a devoted member of Centerville Baptist Church.

Away from his professional life, Wally was a man of many passions. He enjoyed playing golf, participating in adult softball leagues, and had a lifelong love for cars, motorcycles, guns, and guitars. His enthusiasm for music was well-known, and he cherished the opportunity to play and share his love for it with others. Additionally, Wally had a special talent for videoing weddings, a hobby he pursued with great joy as he captured the most special moments for couples to cherish forever.

Wally’s warmth, humor, and dedication to his family, friends, and community will be dearly missed.

In addition to his parents, Wally was preceded in death by his brother, Grady Bassett, Jr. and his grandson Brett Mead.

His memory will forever be treasured by his loving wife, Andrea Bassett; children, Troy Bassett (Amy) of Watkinsville, Georgia, and Leigh Healey (Mark) of Byron, Georgia; grandchildren, Carsyn Bassett of Watkinsville, Georgia, and Kaleb Mead (Meredith) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and sister, Frances McDaniel of Byron, Georgia. 

Visitation will be on Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., at McCullough Funeral Home with a funeral service immediately following in the chapel. Afterward, Wally will be laid to rest privately. 

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of William Wallace “Wally” Bassett to Friendship Baptist Church Building Fund or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by visiting https://www.stjude.org/donate. 

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.