Willie James Epps, 1946-2022; Was SIUE East St. Louis Center Executive Director
Willie James Epps, PhD, of St. Louis, died Tuesday, Dec. 27 in North St. Louis County. He was 76.
Epps, a nationally recognized expert in early childhood education, began working at the SIUE East St. Louis Center (ESLC) in 1980 as a visiting lecturer and retired as the ESLC executive director in 2001.
During his tenure at the ESLC, Epps served as the Science Awareness Program Director, SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Program Director and Executive Director of the East St. Louis Campus from 1994-2001. Epps applied for and received approximately $15 million annually from state, federal and private grants for SIUE.
In addition, Epps oversaw tremendous growth at the ESLC, which included the creation of the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School and work in helping secure $27 million for a new facility. Epps was married to Barbara Epps, PhD, a longtime ESLC employee who served as Child Development Program Director until her retirement in 2001.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 at West Side Missionary Baptist Church, 2677 Dunn Road, St. Louis, Mo.
A complete obituary is available at Legacy.com.