Final Salute

Willie Williams (aka “Silly Willie”) of Lake City, Florida passed away on September 26, 2023, the day after his 85th birthday at the VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. Willie was born in Nashville, Georgia to Lena Bell and George Williams.
At the young age of 17, Willie joined the U.S. Air Force. In 1957, Willie and met his beautiful wife Mildred (“Millie”) and bought their first home in Valdosta, Georgia where Willie became a local fireman and butcher at the meat market. In 1966, Willie changed the course of his path and joined the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees. His tours of duty consisted of: Vietnam, Taiwan, Okinawa, Midway Island, Diego Garcia, St. John’s Island, California, Louisiana, Key West , and Jacksonville. He spent twenty (20) more years in the military and retired in 1986 as a Naval Chief. His “next career” was for the State of Florida Department of Transportation. He spent ten (10) years there using his skills he learned with the Seabees working with heavy equipment.
Willie made their home in 1974 and spent the rest of their lives in Lake City. Willie built a “work shop” that he built bigger than the house! He spent his spare time restoring old cars he loved like 1955 – 1957 Chevys and a 1934 Chevy Coupe. Other than the love of cars and his family, Willie loved fishing. He was an excellent fisherman and enjoyed spending many weekends with his family out-fishing them in the lakes in Lake City, Suwanee River and Crescent Lake.
Willie was a faithful member of Southside Baptist Church in Lake City. He served as a deacon and used many of his God given skills to help at the church. He took part in remodeling the church’s chapel, bought a van for transportation of church members who could not drive, and even procured and installed the church’s kitchen deep fryer stove and exhaust hood where he and Millie served the church families with many fish fries.
Willie was proceeded in death by his parents; two sisters, Flonnie and Louella; two brothers, Leo and Perry; and his devout wife Millie. Survivors include his two loving sons, Ronald James “Dusty” Williams (Tina), Jacksonville and Ricky Joe Williams (Vonne), Camarillo, CA; eight grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Williams will be conducted on Monday, October 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Gateway-Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel with Rev. Herman Hampton officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A time of visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of GATEWAY-FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, 3596 S US Hwy 441, Lake City, FL 32025. Please leave words of comfort for the family at www.gatewayforestlawn.com.

Published by Lake City Reporter on Oct. 3, 2023.