Richard Williams

WILLIAMS, The Honorable Richard L., 87, died peacefully at home on February 19, 2011 in Richmond. Judge Williams was born April 6, 1923 in Morrisville, Va., the third child of the late Wilcie Edward Williams and Minnie Mae Brinkley Williams. He came of age in Morrisville, Va., where he attended a one-room school and was punished on his first day in class for being a "show-off." After high school, Judge Williams entered the Army Signal Corps. He survived Pearl Harbor and honored the day of infamy throughout his life. On December 31, 1947, Dick's sister, Jeannye, introduced him to Eugenia Kellogg. Dick and Gene were married on September 11, 1948 and began a rich and loving life together. Judge Williams received a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1951, after which he joined the law firm of Parrish, Butcher, and Parris. He was a founding member of McGuire, Woods and Battle law firm, where his focus was litigation. He served as a Circuit Court judge for the City of Richmond from 1972 to 1976. In 1980, Judge Williams was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. Judge Williams presided over hundreds of cases, including ruling against the Virginia Board of Elections in 2008 for discounting the absentee ballots of uniformed men and women. Judge Williams took senior status in 1992 but continued to serve faithfully as a jurist, celebrating 30 years on the bench. Together with Gene, Dick loved Highland County, hunting, fishing, gardening, wildflowering and birding. He also enjoyed exchanging farming and gardening tips with his many friends in the mountains. A renowned storyteller, proud "bull artist," and master of hyperbole, Judge Williams had an uncanny ability to recall life experiences, funny stories and seemingly every legal case he ever tried. He was keenly aware of human frailty in himself and in others and celebrated both with a raspy voice and booming laugh. He was preceded in death by his brother, Clinton E. Williams, and by his sister, Jeannye Wehner. Judge Williams is survived by his wife; his daughter, Nancy Davies and her husband, Arthur (Bev), of Richmond; his son, Richard Gregory Williams and his wife, Taffy, of Richmond; his son, Walter Lawrence Williams and his wife, Shawn, of Clarksburg, W.Va.; his daughter, Gwen Mason and her husband, Billy, of Roanoke; by his nine grandchildren and by his three great-grandchildren; and by his sister, Bonnie Stone. Judge Williams leaves behind a cadre of beloved legal colleagues, including fellow judges, support staff and law clerks, known as "formers and mentees." The family particularly wishes to thank the staff of Mature Options and Dr. Kent Titus for their giving spirit in caring for their father at the end of his life. The family is deeply grateful for the devotion and support of Judge Williams' work colleagues and friends, the Honorable Robert E. Payne, Gil Halasz, Debbie Holloman, Barbara Kreuter and Spencer Winn. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22, at Bennett Funeral Home at 3215 Cutshaw Ave., in Richmond. A memorial service will be conducted at St. James's Episcopal Church on Wednesday, February 23, at 11 a.m. Interment is private. The family respectfully suggests memorial contributions may be made Continued,


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.