Howard Williams

HOWARD J. WILLIAMS

Waynesville-Howard Jewel Williams, age 83, of 256 Grandview Circle, died Thursday, February 13, 2003 at his residence.

A native of Yalobusha County, Mississippi, he had resided in Haywood County since 1961. He was the son of the late Arthur Fisher Williams and Mabel Claire Cole Williams. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Agriculture Engineering and was a retired conservationist from the US Department of Agriculture. He had also served as the Soil Conservation Supervisor of Haywood County. An active in conservationist from 1945 - 2000, he served as past president of the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Society. He was a veteran of World War II and was a Mason and past Master of Snow Lodge No. 363 in Boone, NC and was a member of the Hazelwood Boosters. A member of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, he was a member of the Asbury Bible Class, and served as usher from 1962 - 2000. He was instrumental in organizing the United Methodist men and was awarded a lifetime membership.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ruth McKibben Williams; two daughters, Ruth Anne Moody, and her husband, Fred H. Moody, Jr. of Bryson City, NC, and Sarah Claire Williams of Landsdale, Pennsylvania; a son, Dr. Howard J. Williams, Jr., and his wife, Susan, of College Station, Texas; a sister, Opal Wright, of Water Valley, Mississippi; a brother, Robert Williams, of Coffeeville, Mississippi; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Dr. W. Lyn Sorrells, Reverend John Christy, and Reverend Dr. Joe Hale officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:15 - 2:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be Joe Boone, Jack King, Tony Caudle, J. C. Jennings, Raymond Caldwell, and John Nelson.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville Building Fund, P.O. Box 838, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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