Fought in France during World War I with the American 37th Division and rose to the rank of captain. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with a gold star. He worked with his father Senator LeRoy Percy in 1922 to fight against the KKK. During the 1927 Mississippi River flood he headed the local Red Cross. He also wrote poetry and was inspired to write by Carrie Stern (the local school is named for). He was also a local lawyer. William's autobiography is named "Lantern on the Levee; Recollections of a Planters Son".

(the below is added from research by "Barbara" (47457585))
NOTED SOUTHERN WRITER DIES
William A. Percy, widely known Southern author-lawyer-planter of Greenville, died at a Greenville hospital Wednesday following an illness of several months at the age of 56 years.
Mr. Percy was the author of several volumes of poetry and the recent autobiographical best seller, "Lanterns on the Levee." Mr. Percy was the son of former United States Senator Leroy Percy of Mississippi. He was a graduate of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn., and the Harvard Law School. He served overseas in the first World War. Before entering the army in that war, he served with Hoover's Belgian relief expedition.
Funeral services are to be held in Greenville Friday.
The Weekly Democrat, Poplarville, Mississippi, January 22, 1942

Fought in France during World War I with the American 37th Division and rose to the rank of captain. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with a gold star. He worked with his father Senator LeRoy Percy in 1922 to fight against the KKK. During the 1927 Mississippi River flood he headed the local Red Cross. He also wrote poetry and was inspired to write by Carrie Stern (the local school is named for). He was also a local lawyer. William's autobiography is named "Lantern on the Levee; Recollections of a Planters Son".

(the below is added from research by "Barbara" (47457585))
NOTED SOUTHERN WRITER DIES
William A. Percy, widely known Southern author-lawyer-planter of Greenville, died at a Greenville hospital Wednesday following an illness of several months at the age of 56 years.
Mr. Percy was the author of several volumes of poetry and the recent autobiographical best seller, "Lanterns on the Levee." Mr. Percy was the son of former United States Senator Leroy Percy of Mississippi. He was a graduate of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn., and the Harvard Law School. He served overseas in the first World War. Before entering the army in that war, he served with Hoover's Belgian relief expedition.
Funeral services are to be held in Greenville Friday.
The Weekly Democrat, Poplarville, Mississippi, January 22, 1942