W illiam Oliver Cephas better known as “Big C” of Hurlock, MD departed this life on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at Tidal Health Hospital in Salisbury, MD in the presence of his daughter. He was 77 years old.

     William “Big C” was born in Hurlock, MD on September 22, 1948 to the late Frank Oliver Cephas and Mabel Gertrude Cephas.

     He received his education from the Dorchester County School System. He graduated from Maces Lane school in 1966. After graduation Big C went into the Armed Services (Army). He was honorably discharged in 1969. He worked for several factories before going to the Poultry plant in Hurlock. He worked there for over 40 years before he retired. During his time there he met the love of his life Essie Cephas and after 18 years of courtship they officially tied the knot on October 7, 1989. After retiring he did what he loved to do helping everyone he could. No matter what it was from cutting grass to fixing cars or anything that needed to be fixed. William “Big C” loved baking, hunting, fishing, fixing cars, planting flowers and anything else that kept him busy outside in nature. He mostly loved spending time with family and friends.

     He was a member of Mount Calvary U.M. Church in Preston, Maryland. He loved family and he devoted his time to make sure everybody was good. He was a loving and kind father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Everyone knew him as the handy man. When you called he would be right there no question asked. And if you tried to pay him, he would walk away and say “thats ok, you might need it later.”

     He leaves to mourn, his daughter, Willanda Jenkins (Phillip), grandchildren; Tamera Jenkins (Donnie) and Jocqui Jenkins, great-grand children; Bryson Duffy and DonMera Keene, stepchildren Granival Batson Sr., Thomas Batson (Dessa), Carleesa Jolley, 15 step grandchildren, and step great grandchildren, siblings: Gloria Greene (David), Brenda Wilmer, Margaret Hubbard (Lorenzo), Cynthia Chester (Nathaniel), In laws: Sylvia Bode, and Dorakay Elliott, his daughters closest friends that he thought of as his own, Shauna Camper (Tabory) and Andrea Molock (Terrell), his niece that would drop everything when it came to her uncle, Catina Simms, close family friend, Gwendolyn Weal, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.

     William was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Essie Cephas, brothers: Frank Cephas Jr., Douglas Cephas Sr. and Jerome Cephas Sr., nephew, Dwayne Batson Sr., step daughter, June Arshad, stepson, Ondrey Jolley, In laws: Frederick Batson, Betty Robinson, Pauline Camper-Milligan and Yvonne Tribbett.