Individual Details
James William "Bill" FURR Jr.
(6 Aug 1945 - 22 May 2016)
William Furr believes in his work. The Columbus resident often spends his days, and many nights, writing. The most recent result is his fifth self-published book, “Mathematical Proof of Divine Creation and He Leads Me — I Follow.” The 900-page printing published by Author House in December 2012 is a combination of rhyming poetry and mathematical equations Furr feels illustrate creation.
The book is intended to be a “momento of thanks to our great God,” a method of sharing some of the “love and devotion that I truly believe God has bestowed unto me,” the author pens in the introduction. “I write this book only to let all men and women know where I stand as the seasons come and go … ”
The book’s poetic content was written over several years, much of it in 2010 and 2011. Most of the poems are inspired by Furr’s spirituality.
He can remember the first poems he ever wrote as a youngster. He also recalls a 1928 edition of “101 Famous Poems” his grandfather gave his mother. The leather-covered book contained all the old masters, and Furr read them all.
“Longfellow, Tennyson, Emily Dickinson, all of them — that’s what really got me started,” he explained.
The compulsion to put pen to paper frequently comes to Furr at night.
“I sometimes wonder why I hear these reverberating rhythms … ” he shared. “These numbers and words and phrases just keep coming.”
Furr readily notes that he had a limited formal education, one in which he struggled with both English and mathematics. That’s why his prolific poetry and the many math equations are, he feels, inspired by a higher power. His primary hope is that readers approach his book with an “open mind and willing spirit.”
Although Furr has boxes of material already banked for potential publication, he continues to write.
“You know, (Thomas) Edison liked to say that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. I like to say genius is one percent inspiration –and the rest is up to God,” he said.
The Dispatch, Columbus, Mississippi, July 28, 2022
The book is intended to be a “momento of thanks to our great God,” a method of sharing some of the “love and devotion that I truly believe God has bestowed unto me,” the author pens in the introduction. “I write this book only to let all men and women know where I stand as the seasons come and go … ”
The book’s poetic content was written over several years, much of it in 2010 and 2011. Most of the poems are inspired by Furr’s spirituality.
He can remember the first poems he ever wrote as a youngster. He also recalls a 1928 edition of “101 Famous Poems” his grandfather gave his mother. The leather-covered book contained all the old masters, and Furr read them all.
“Longfellow, Tennyson, Emily Dickinson, all of them — that’s what really got me started,” he explained.
The compulsion to put pen to paper frequently comes to Furr at night.
“I sometimes wonder why I hear these reverberating rhythms … ” he shared. “These numbers and words and phrases just keep coming.”
Furr readily notes that he had a limited formal education, one in which he struggled with both English and mathematics. That’s why his prolific poetry and the many math equations are, he feels, inspired by a higher power. His primary hope is that readers approach his book with an “open mind and willing spirit.”
Although Furr has boxes of material already banked for potential publication, he continues to write.
“You know, (Thomas) Edison liked to say that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. I like to say genius is one percent inspiration –and the rest is up to God,” he said.
The Dispatch, Columbus, Mississippi, July 28, 2022
Events
| Birth | 6 Aug 1945 | Mississippi | |||
| Death | 22 May 2016 | Columbus, Lowndes County, MS |  |  | |
| Marriage | Living |
Families
| Spouse | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Father | James William "Billy" FURR (1918 - 2014) |
| Mother | Dorothy Louise CROWDER (1918 - 2011) |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Living |
Notes
Death
COLUMBUS — James William “Bill” Furr Jr., 70, died May 22, 2016, at his residence. Century Hairston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Furr was born Aug. 6, 1945, to the late James William Furr Sr. and Dorothy Crowder Furr. He was previously employed with Melody Music Company and was an author. He is survived by his wife, Tangy Carpenter Furr of Columbus; daughter, Summer Taylor of West Point; brother, Don L. Furr of California; sister, Jill Furr of Tennessee; and one grandson.The Commercial Dispatch, Columbus, Mississippi, May 25, 2016
Endnotes
1. The Commercial Dispatch, Columbus, Mississippi, May 25, 2016.