Cedric H. Williams

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, Cedric Hazen Williams completed his work on Earth and entered heaven, where he met his Savior face-to-face. Cedric was born February 25, 1943, in Greenville, MS, to Cedric Hazen Williams, Sr, and Clara Elizabeth Crowe Williams. He was the middle of three children. On July 19, 1963, Cedric married Jo Ellen Wix Williams. God gave them two children, John Williams and Allyson Williams Alden.
After Cedric graduated from Hot Springs High School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his time in the Air Force, he served at various radar stations and in Vietnam. After eight years of service in the Air Force, Cedric began a long career working for Southwestern Bell in both Little Rock, Arkansas and Dallas, Texas. Cedric retired from the phone company and worked a few years for Malmstrom-White.
Cedric and Jo spent most of their married life in Little Rock, where they were members of The Bible Church of Little Rock. While at The Bible Church, Cedric served as a deacon, an elder, an AWANA leader, and in an inner-city tutoring ministry. After Cedric and Jo both retired, they moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, where they were founding members of Christ Fellowship Church of Williamsburg. At Christ Fellowship, Cedric led the team of greeters who welcomed people to church week after week.
Cedric first fell in love with sailing when he and Jo lived in Dallas. When they moved to Little Rock, he kept his Kittiwake at Grand Maumelle Sailing Club, where he served on the board for many years. He loved to race his sailboat, and unfortunately for his wife, he was very good at it! He was awarded many silver platters and cups that Jo had to polish for many years so that Cedric could proudly display them on the mantel in their home. In Little Rock, Cedric also fell in love with the art of furniture making. He made many beautiful pieces of furniture that his family will cherish for generations. Before Cedric and Jo moved to Williamsburg, he sold his beloved sailboat but found out that he could continue his love of sailing as a volunteer at Jamestown Settlement. In the past few years, Cedric's newest hobby was bread making. He would spend hours reading recipes to find new, better recipes. His family loved his latest hobby as they were the recipients of his many attempts at the perfect loaf!
Nothing brought more joy to Cedric than his wife, children, and grandchildren. Many of his happiest memories were made with his eight grandchildren, who loved him dearly. He would take his grandchildren on "Grandad Day," which would involve Cedric making a breakfast sandwich wrapped in wax paper secured with a rubber band for each child, picking the grandchildren up in his white truck, and taking them to the park. "Grandad" let his grandchildren lead the adventures while he followed from the back so that he could get all of the adventures on video. In his later years, Cedric and Jo would watch those videos for hours at a time to relive the wonderful memories. Cedric loved his wife sacrificially to the point of neglecting his own health to serve Jo. In her last days, Cedric was carrying his wife into bed each night and lifting her out every morning. He was insistent that he provide for all of her physical needs, and he did all the way to the end.
Cedric was predeceased by his wife, parents, siblings, a grandchild, and a great-grandson. He leaves behind his son, John Williams (Jana) of Jacksonville, FL, his daughter Allyson Williams Alden (Kris) of Williamsburg, VA, and eight grandchildren: Kristen Shein (Bobby) of Jacksonville, FL, John Alden (Amber) of Lynchburg, VA, David Williams (Alyssa) of Jacksonville, FL, Anna Alden (fiancé Jalen) of Clinton, TN, Caroline Cotter (Michael) of Jacksonville, FL, Seth Alden (Gabriella) of Williamsburg, VA, Leah Alden of Williamsburg, VA, and Noah Alden of Williamsburg, VA.
A memorial service for both Cedric and Jo will be held on Sunday, May 11, at 2 PM at Christ Fellowship Church of Williamsburg, 3687 Ironbound Road. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to Christ Fellowship or FH, a ministry serving orphans with special needs in Asia. Cedric and Jo have supported and prayed for the FH work since 1992. Checks can be made out to FH and mailed to P.O. Box 64059, Eagan, MN, 55164. In the memo, please write "In memory of Cedric and Jo." To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cedric, please visit our floral store.