William Hatchett "Chett" Bason, Jr.

William Hatchett (‘Chett’) Bason Jr., 74, of Greensboro, NC passed away surrounded by those who loved him on July 17th, 2026. Chett was a devoted father, loyal brother, and proud Demon Deacon. The family will hold a memorial service 2:00 P,M, Saturday August 1, 2026 at First Baptist Church 409 S. Main St. Reidsville, NC with Dr. Lance Cole officiating. A reception will be held following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Born on August 1st, 1951, Chett lived his life with a sense of purpose and deep devotion to his family and friends. Chett was raised in Reidsville, North Carolina by his loving parents- William (‘Bill’) Hatchett Bason Sr. d. 2000, and Sarah Clark Bason d. 2017- alongside younger siblings Sally and Clark. In Reidsville he established himself as a standout tennis star and developed leadership skills that would earn him a place in Washington D.C. as a U.S. Senate Page. He was a long standing member at both First Baptist Church in Reidsville in his youth and First Presbyterian Church in Martinsville throughout adulthood.

A 1973 graduate of Wake Forest, Chett was a proud member of Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) chapter and maintained life-long friendships into his final week.

Chett had a long and meaningful career as a general manager and company leader, rising first in 1970s and 80s in human resources, Chett worked hard to build a strong foundation for his family while living and working in places such as Findlay, Ohio and Chatham, Virginia. Chett ultimately planted roots and raised his family alongside Carol Cinnamon in Martinsville, Virginia while serving as a widely-loved partial owner of Tri-State-Foam/Glazed Products for decades preceding the successful company sale and his eventual retirement.

Chett cared deeply for people from all walks of life, and he made a positive impact on countless lives in his time with us. He coached Little League, refereed basketball games, and generously supported seemingly every child and athletic opportunity in the neighborhood. In later years, he would support the Community Theater of Greensboro. At work, in the community, in sports and especially with family, Chett always found ways to inject his infectious enthusiasm for life.

In his final years, Chett found his ideal retirement spot; overlooking the greens and fairways of Grandover Resort, in Greensboro, North Carolina where he enjoyed walking and adding to his expansive golf ball collection.

Most of all, Chett cherished the time he spent with his family. His move to Greensboro brought him closer to his children, with whom he shared a truly special relationship, and travel brought the opportunity to see the world with friends and family and to visit far-away grandchildren. Some of his happiest memories were made on family cruises and trips with friends to places like Palm Springs, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, The Greenbrier, Blowing Rock, and Myrtle Beach—laughing, relaxing, and exploring the world with the people he loved most.

For Chett, sports were not an idle pastime, but a lifetime of shared joys and sorrows. He was a lifetime WF football and basketball fan, and more recently became an ardent supporter of baseball and volleyball. He was captivated by the 2025 MVP season of former Deac Nick Kurtz and never missed an A’s game on TV. His all-time favorite Wake Forest memory was watching Randolph Childress propel the Deacs to victory against Carolina in the 1995 ACC Basketball tournament. In 2025 he watched Wake Forest Football give SMU their first ACC loss on a last-second 50 yard field goal, sat in the stands for an hour after beating Carolina, and cheered loudly at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, all while exuding great pride that his daughter, Katie, was roaming the sidelines as a member of the Wake Forest Football staff.

He also found great joy in attending the Masters Tournament every year with his son Billy. The Masters combined his love of competition, natural beauty, and the eternal search for beauty with countless meaningful moments with family and friends.

Chett is survived by his brother, Samuel Clark Bason, his sister, Sarah (‘Sally’) Marion Bason, his three beloved children: William (‘Billy’) Hatchett Bason III and his wife Laura Barrow Bason; Sarah Catherine (‘Katie') Bason; and Scott Barclay, his wife Inga, and their four children, Ethan, Evie, Poppy, and Charlotte and cousins Jay and Lynn Burke and Gina and Gib Upchurch.

His three children were the pride of his life, and he treasured every moment spent with them.

Those who knew Chett will remember his warmth, humor, generosity, his reputation as a big tipper, and the way his face lit up whenever he threw confetti in celebration of a Demon Deacon touchdown. His legacy will live on in the many traditions he passed down, the kindness he encouraged, the loyalty he showed, and the countless loving memories he leaves behind.

He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Community Theater of Greensboro. CTG was close to Chett’s heart and supporting their efforts gave him great joy.

Citty Funeral Home is assisting the Bason family.

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