Willie Earl Perkins was born August 26, 1947 in Columbus Mississippi to James and Lizzie Perkins. The family moved to Little Rock, AR in 1950.

He attended and graduated from Little Rock Public Schools. He was an avid football player at Horace Mann High School.

Along with his family, he united with the St. Paul Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. L. M. Knowles at the age of twelve years. After completing high school, he moved to Chicago, Illinois.

After a short illness, he passed away July 26, 1994.

He was self employed in his business, the Perkins Roofing company. He was greatly loved by his family and friends.

He leaves to morn his passing: his wife, Barbara Coats Perkins; his mother;  Lizzie Perkins; two sons; Kendric Barron and Anthony Foster; two daughters, Tasha Foster and Tessa Perkins; seven brothers, Patrick, Sylvester, Bennie, James all of Little Rock, Cleon and Willie Tate of Chicago, IL and Johnny of Omaha, NB; six sisters, Velma Moore of Chicago, IL and Wanda Hansberry, Joe Ann Perkins, Della Gates, Betty Perkins and Addie McCoy of Little Rock, AR.