Heard it Here

After surviving a gruesome attack earlier this year, Arthur William “Bill” Bloxham, 60, was finally getting back on his feet. Following an extended stay at the Bethesda Center for the homeless, he was eligible for transitional housing, and had started up his daily visits to the Reynolda Manor Branch of the Forsyth Public Library again in Winston-Salem, NC.

This made the discovery of Bloxham’s body in a Hardee’s on Monday, Oct. 30^th, particularly devastating to those who knew him, because it seemed as though things were finally looking up for him.

A graduate of the UNC School of the Arts, and a musician, Bloxham had a clear passion for the arts. It is unclear what events led to his transient status, but in the process, Bloxham found a new love: books.

For two years, Bloxham frequented the Central Library downtown spending four to eight hours, playing on the computer and reading books on everything from physics to astronomy, every day until it closed for renovation in 2014. Following the close, he shifted his daily presence to the Reynolda Manor Branch, making the five-mile trek from the downtown Bethesda Center to the library.

Bloxham was a private, but friendly individual, and according to library staff, he became even more chatty over the last few months.

“I know he had visited the downtown library a few times but he kept coming back here,” said Jenny Boneno, the Reynolda Branch Manager. “I think he liked both, but had grown fond of this place, and we’re glad he felt good about coming here.”

Employees at the Central Library confirmed Bloxham’s generosity and kind nature.

“When I worked at the Reynolda Branch, he would sit outside and eat his lunch,” said Kathy Cochran, county security at the Central Library branch. “He would go out of his way to help others. If someone was hungry and he had food, he would give it to them.”

Providing public restrooms, warmth in the winter months, and access to computers and literature, libraries in Winston-Salem serve as a rest stop for many homeless individuals in the community.

“Back when the attack happened, I mean he would miss days here and there, but he hadn’t been here for two, three, five days, then a week, then close to two weeks,” said Boneno. She noted that it’s not uncommon for transient people to leave for extended periods of time, but since Bloxham had local ties, it was out of character.

Within a few days, they found out he had been attacked and was in the hospital for several weeks. He remained there for a few months, and then resided with a local family member as he recovered.

Still weak and in recovery, Bloxham’s made his return to the library during the summer. The staff noted that everyone was excited to see him, including patrons who had grown accustomed to his presence in this community.

He would walk in and either sit in one of the big black leather chairs, reading whatever he could get his hands on, or he would sit at the computers and read the news.

“He was just wicked smart. He always wanted to know what was going on,” said Boneno. “He would hold the newspaper up to his face because he could hardly see at all. But I will say, he was doing so much better, and seemed to be getting stronger. He was still having memory and sight issues, but seemed more like his old self in the last month or two.”

Bloxham had recently received notice that he was eligible for transitional housing, and told employees at the Reynolda branch about his excitement to get an apartment. He had even talked about buying a crockpot so he could make his own meals. He was trying to make a plan.

If there was any indication that he was feeling poorly, the employees at the Reynolda branch didn’t see it in the days leading up to his death.

Bloxham had discussed the trial with Boneno, reflecting on his outlook of the situation. Two of the five youths who attacked him under a bridge near Hanes Park, have been sentenced to 33 and 39 months in prison. The group fractured his ribs and vertebra, and caused eye and brain damage. At least three have been convicted of felony assault. One case is pending, and the other two are awaiting trial in juvenile court.

“I talked to him on Friday,” said Boneno. “He said he felt like they should be punished for what they did, but he also felt badly for their families, and felt badly that they were on this path at such a young age. He had compassion for them, and he said he had forgiven them. It was just hard. He knows, well he knew, he was going to have repercussions for the rest of his life.”

The computer station Bloxham always used, sits empty.

“I always enjoyed talking to Bill,” said Kathryn Nesbit, Assistant Branch Manager. “His absence is very noticeable.”

The staff at the Reynolda Branch is in discussion about dedicating Bloxham’s favorite bench in his memory. Information about a memorial service has yet to be disclosed.

“We’ve just been really sad,” said Boneno, “because for a month or two we didn’t know if he would live, and to see him almost, well he would never be like he was, but to see him kind of getting there, and then this happens is just… it doesn’t make sense.”