Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Add a Memory
Make a Donation
FUNERAL HOME
Dick Williams Obituary
He worked for TV broadcasters around the country, including some of the national giants, before settling into Atlanta. Here, he was a three-medium threat. He worked for newspapers at The Atlanta Journal and later ran a small newspaper (the Dunwoody Crier), and he did political radio. But the weekly televised news talk show "The Georgia Gang," which began as the "Sunday News Conference" in the early 1980s on WSB-TV, was his pride and joy.
Over 36 years, Williams taped more than 1,700 episodes, starting in the early 1980s when Atlanta children were going missing and murdered. Over the years, he parsed every major Atlanta City Hall scandal, pontificated on the tenures of six city mayors, assessed the Olympics arrival and legacy, picked apart downtown development and watched Georgia's political winds shift. It continues to be broadcast, but he retired in 2019.
Williams told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution then: "I'm proud that this program stayed on the air 36 years. That's pretty remarkable. I'm always gratified by the sheer number of people who watch the show and engage in it across all walks of life and income levels. It's amazing."
"He was an affable guy and also incredibly prolific," said Jeff Dickerson, who worked for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in the 1980s and 1990s and was a "Georgia Gang" panelist.
"He'd start a column at 10:02 a.m. and have it ready at 10:17 a.m. He was amazingly fast. At one point, he was writing three, four columns a week as well as a bunch of unsigned editorials."
The conservative Williams co-hosted a radio show with liberal Tom Houck in the 1980s.
"He was a die-hard Reagan conservative back then," said Houck, who also was part of "The Georgia Gang." At the same time, Houck said he and Williams loved covering election nights on the radio. "We'd set aside ideology for a night and focus on who's winning and who's losing," he said.
UPDATE: A memorial service will be held February 11 at 10 AM at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandy Springs, with visitation the evening before from 4 to 7 PM at H.M. Patterson and Son Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, honoring Williams and his late wife, Rebecca Chase, who died in 2020. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Dunwoody and Brookhaven police department foundations.
Read more about Dick Williams on ajc.com
Memories and Condolences
for Dick Williams
21 Entries
David Beatty
March 30, 2023
Dear Chase & Clare & family:
I only saw this in March 2023 and am saddened by the loss.
"Canoe Head" , affectionately nicknamed so by his GU classmates for the shape of his head, was a wonderful person and persobnality and we were classmates at Georgetown and 2 17 year olds entering in the Fall of '61.
Dick was legendary for his sports trivia, instant recall, and his loquaciousness on all things "sports". We shared that.
But what a distinghuished and impactful career and a life well-lived.
A great "Hoya" fan and good friend anytime we could connect.
RIP, "Canoe Head". You ran a great race!
Condolences to the family over this loss.
David Beatty GU "65
Norfolk VA
Joey Ledford
April 30, 2022
Having retired and moved from Atlanta two years ago, only today (April 30) did I learn of Dick's passing. What a wonderful man with a pleasant, welcoming smile. He was my colleague at the ajc for nearly two decades, and even though we rarely agreed on politics, I always respected his reasoned, logical approach. You will be missed, my friend. Godspeed!
Ray McClure
February 6, 2022
When I saw Dick's name on an upcoming game we were to officiate, it always brought a smile to my face. We always found a way to have some fun on the basketball court together. It was never a surprise to see him in or near the stands speaking to several individuals at one time, while we were trying to get to the dressing room at halftime or at the end of a game. A real southern gentleman who was loved by many and had so many friends they could fill up any coliseum. He will be missed often by so many. The good news is, "Christians never say goodbye for the last time."
Marcy Cowan
February 5, 2022
I just learned of Dick's death tonight through a Georgetown friend. Also a DC transplant to Atlanta, I enjoyed our friendship through the Georgetown Club. I'm so sorry about your loss, he was a wonderfully engaging man!
Coach Angie Hembree
February 2, 2022
My condolences to his family at this sad time. I first met Dick as a high school basketball official. I always loved our discussions and watched his television show, The Georgia Gang, religiously. We have lost a great man.
Coach Steve Sweat
January 28, 2022
A great man. Showed love and gave help to many people. He made you feel special and important when he talked to you(even when he was wearing the stripes on the court)! God bless.
Rusty Hudson
January 27, 2022
I will truly miss Dick Williams. Truth is I haved missed him greatly ever since he stepped down from "The Georgia Gang." I enjoyed talking with him about almost anything because he was so knowledgeable on so many subjects and especially politics. He officiated many of my basketball games over the years when I was coaching at the old Lakeshore HS and at Weslake HS from 1973-1996. I would always tease him when he entered the gym by saying something like don't be so liberal in his interprtation of the rules, and he would counter with something like he was merely being conservative in the use of his whistle to let the kids play. We'd both laugh, and the game would go on. Dick may have loved basketball as much as anyone that I know. He was a truly a genuine good person. The family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Michael Flaherty
January 27, 2022
Dick Williams was one of my most favorite people. It was both a pleasure and a privilege to have known him. I worked with Dick at the Atlanta Tip-off Club in the 80´s and 90´s. He was a true gentleman and the ultimate basketball enthusiast.
He lived an exemplary life.
My condolences and deepest sympathies to his daughters and extended family and friends!
Ralph H white
January 27, 2022
We shared a love of basketball.
Bob Francis
January 26, 2022
Dick was a man of principal and integrity. An astute observer of the human condition with always a twinkle in his eye, he will be missed by his family and many friends. Hoya Saxa Dick and Godspeed.
SHARON WEISS
January 26, 2022
I was so sorry to learn of Dick's passing. He and Rebecca were enthusiastic supporters of the Spruill Arts Center and purchased 4 of my paintings during Spruill's Artistic Affair fundraiser. The Crier has never been the same since it was sold.
Christina Mimms
January 25, 2022
Both Dick and Rebecca were incredibly supportive to me during my time working at St. Martin's. So much good advice, so many positive words. I miss them both but I am thankful to have known them and spent time with them, and with Chase and Clare. I will never forget their kindness.
Sandy Martin
January 24, 2022
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family. You will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.
Jane Maxwell Brown
January 23, 2022
Alas, we lost touch over the years. He was a good man. May his memory be a blessing.
Susan And Dick Kessler
January 23, 2022
Dear Chase and Clare and family,
Dick and I would like to offer our sincere condolences on the death of your Dad this past Thursday. It was a joy and an honor to help your family sell your home and relocate to another larger home in our beloved neighborhood. Your Dad had a quick wit and determined persona which made him successful in his business as well as with friends and those that had the opportunity to know him. Your Mom created a legacy working hard to constantly improve our HOA here. She also left a legacy for her success creating the development of Brookhaven as a city! Her tenacity and ability to talk effectively with others was her passion. Dick enjoyed taking your Dad to lunch at East Lake Golf Club several times with some of his close business acquaintances. Your Dad really enjoyed those special moments.
They will both be missed by many that knew, loved, and respected them. You remain her our prayers.
Maizie Hale
January 21, 2022
Dick always had a smile on his face and a ready quip to fit the subject at hand!
Sharlene F Moore
January 21, 2022
I have such fond memories of Dick and Becky at Australian Body Works. They were so warm and comfortable to be with. Rest in peace Dick.
Donald H Price
January 21, 2022
I enjoyed working many high school basketball games with Dick in the 90´s. He was a good and fair human being. Rest In Peace, friend.
Carol Niemi
January 21, 2022
Early in my years working with Dick, he taught me a good lesson on standing up for my work. When a Fulton County bureaucrat had apparently misspoken at a tax meeting and I quoted her, she emailed me asking me to retract her statement. When I asked Dick what to do, he said, "Did she say it? Then do nothing." He was generous, fearless and funny. RIP, Dick Williams.
Richard McDonald
January 20, 2022
Dick Williams, Becky Chase, Jim Minter, Bill Shipp,Lewis Grizzard , Ron Hudspeth , Tom Houck and Sam Rawls, all had different views, but the same respect for Georgia. The State needs more "what is good for us" and less "what is good for me". Dick would have agreed.
Showing 1 - 21 of 21 results
Make a Donation
in Dick Williams's name
Memorial Events
for Dick Williams
Feb
10
Visitation
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel
4550 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA
Feb
11
Memorial service
10:00 a.m.
St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church
Sandy Springs, GA
Funeral services provided by:
H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel4550 Peachtree Road Ne, Atlanta, GA 30319
How to support Dick's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Dick Williams's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more