Will David McConnell

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of William “Will” David McConnell on May 3, 2024, after a 15-year battle with bipolar disorder. He was born on November 21, 1978, in Griffin, GA, to Debra Pruitt and David McConnell. Will graduated from Opelika High School in 1996 and attended Southern Union State Community College while working for Southern Electronics. A prolific tinkerer, Will loved to deconstruct various mechanical items then improve upon the original design. He actively advocated exercise, especially for children. Will built custom bikes for his niece and nephew and built/repaired bikes for Exodus Ranch, a home for local children in need. Later in life, he worked for several bike shops and could assemble bikes at record speed. Bicycle and motorcycle racing were his primary passions. Among his countless races and victories, Will was a two-time Bike Coweta Rockstar Challenge champion, two-time Go Nuts Spring Series overall winner, Battle for Paynes Creek overall team winner, and Bo Bikes Bama participant.

Bipolar disorder can feel like an unsolvable puzzle. Those suffering from the illness often do not recognize problematic symptoms. Their brains are unable to process when their thoughts and moods do not reflect reality. Even if they acknowledge the illness and seek treatment, it can take months to access the help that they need. Resources are scarce and overloaded. While the stigma around the disease has improved, it still exists.

Faced with the hopelessness of depression and feeling like a burden to those he loved, Will believed that he had no choice but to take his own life. We cannot change Will’s fate, but we can do our part to ensure that others do not follow the same path. Will’s death serves as a painful reminder to never miss an opportunity to tell someone that you love them. God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Will is survived by his mother, Debra Pruitt; father, David McConnell; grandmother, Elna Brown; siblings, Jennifer (Ken) Golden, Ashley (Ferrill) Crisler, Conner (Cassie) Pruitt, and Harrison (Rebecca) McConnell; nephews, James Golden and Oliver McConnell; and niece, Charlotte Golden. Will was preceded in death by his grandparents, William Brown and Gene and Helen McConnell.

To honor Will’s memory, we are holding a Celebration of Life on Saturday, July 13, at 2pm in the former Southern Electronics location—12 North 8th Street, Opelika, AL. We ask attendees to wear bright colors. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to UAB’s Early Intervention in Mental Health program by visiting https://go.uab.edu/willmcconnell.  For more information on this revolutionary program, go to https://www.uab.edu/medicine/psychiatry/images/early-intervention-in-mental-health.pdf. Nearly everyone has a mental illness story. Join us as we work to solve the puzzle.

https://go.uab.edu/willmcconnell

https://www.uab.edu/medicine/psychiatry/images/early-intervention-in-mental-health.pdf