Donald Williams

Donald Williams Sr. was born July 9, 1929 to the late Harry and Lillian Williams and passed over into the Spirit World on May 25, 2022. Donald was born and raised on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation and attended the one room schoolhouse on the territory and later went to Southampton public schools. He joined the Air Force in 1945 and was stationed at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado, and attended tech school for clerical work. He was also stationed in Japan. When he returned back home, he married Agnes Theresa Wise on November 11, 1951. Six children were born from this union. He later married Joan Crippen on January 20, 1991. He had many nicknames–Uncle Willy, Big Don, which he acquired when he was a pitcher for a traveling baseball team, Don Eagle, and Poppa Don, just to name a few. He loved playing golf and traveled to Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, all over Long Island and more to participate in tournaments. He was one of the founding members of the Shinnecock Golfers Association. He was employed by the New York State Department of Transportation where he retired as the department's first Native American Supervisor. Donald loved Shinnecock and was a member of the Shinnecock Elders Committee where he served as Chair and Co-Chair, helping to make the Nation a better place. You could always find him riding around in his car or gator, talking and joking with the members of the Nation, both young and old, telling his stories of yesteryear and how things were back in his day.
He is predeceased by his sisters Vivian (Pete) Carle, Alice (Edgar Sr.) Franklin, Camile (Brooks) Bullock, brothers Harry K. (Rebecca), Arthur Thomas Sr. (Dorothy), his sons Mark K. (Judith), Jeffrey B., grandson Matthew D. and granddaughter Christine Cuffee.
His memory is cherished by his children Paula V., Mitchell D. Sr (Denise), Donald Jr. (Elena), Dirk, Eugene (Mabel) Cuffee, stepchildren Carla Shepard and Jason (Mani) Cofield, and God daughter Caroline (David) Courtenay.
Grandchildren Sherekhan (Alicia), Seneca (Elisa), Anitchewan, Yasmine (Awan), Theresa, Nishwe, Mark, Cherelle (James), Mitchell Jr., Maurice, Marcus, Malcolm, Ricardo, Michelle, Kyle (Amanda), Donald III, Autumn, Nitauke, Antonio, Andrew, Vincent, Raymond, Anna, Emma, Allen, Malachi, Christina, Scott, Jason, Janique, Sunceri and Asia.
Great grandchildren Ty'Shaun, Deion, Aaliyah, Brandon, Jessica, Tyasia, Ta'tiona, Tailynn, Naike, Nishawan, Alexis, Jermaine, Derek, Jaliyah, Iyanna, Randnell Jr., Tyler, Matthew, Knova, Elijah, Xavier, Gabriel, Zayden, Lorenzo, Andre Jr., Camille, Carine, Cailah, Caleb, Yanabah, Kutshausha, Nokummes, Kyree, Amayah, Antonio, Yeshua, Lyric, Adagio, Lia, Symphany and two step-great granddaughters Trinity and Kenya.
Great Great grandchildren, Brysen, Zaiden, Jayden and Jordan.
A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A special thanks to his buddy, Will Reed, who was always there to lend a helping hand.
The family has lost a true leader, a rich storyteller, an irreplaceable member of the family. The Shinnecock Nation has lost a true warrior, a man with the courage to stand for the Native people, a protector of everything good. He is and always will be loved. We will all miss him tremendously.
Lovingly submitted by the Family