Obituary published on Legacy.com by Marvin C. Zanders Funeral Home, Inc. on Apr. 6, 2025.
President and owner of 3D Tire Company Inc., an established family-operated tire business built on faith, dedication, and a commitment to service. With more than 40 years in business, the company is still providing commercial, automotive, and industrial tire related services throughout the Central Florida community.
As a product of the Orange County public school system, Phyllis Wheatley High School Class of 1958, Mr. Williams embarked on a long and illustrious career within the tire industry while raising an active sports family and offering support to his community.
As a leader, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and pillar of the Eatonville community, Mr. Williams has maintained a passion for sports and unwavering support for Edgewater High School athletics across three generations.
With his recent passing, the family would like to share the love, passion, and support he showed for all things Edgewater by maintaining his legacy through the Edgewater High School Basketball Program.
In lieu of flowers, the Williams Family requests that you honor Mr. Ernest Williams' legacy by donating to the Edgewater High School Basketball program.
Your support will help continue his passion for youth sports and his dedication to the local community in which he served. https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/the-foundation-for-orange-county-public-schools-inc/ernest-williams-memorial-fund
Deacon Ernest Allen was born Marc h21, 1941 to the late Houston and Ella Jane Williams in Fort Gaines, Georgia. There he attended Chattahoochee Elementary School before locating to Florida in October 1951 with the family in search of work opportunities.
Prior to permanently settling within the Tangerine area of Orange County, Florida, the Williams Family initially resided within the former "Beech Nut Farm" quarters and later moved into a home in Zellwood, Florida.
Deacon Williams began his Christian journey at an early age having attended Brown's Chapel American Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Gaines, Georgia, before joining and being baptized at the Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Tangerine, Florida. He completed his grade school education at Frederick Douglass Elementary in Zellwood, Florida and in 1958, graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School in
Apopka, Florida. On June 3, 1960, he married the love of his life Zethel Loerine Harvey.
After graduating high school, he soon become employed at the former East Coast Tire Company where he spent 25 years performing in various positions before leaving as Manager and setting out on faith and a trust in God to start 3D Tire Company in 1985.
Remaining steadfast and committed in his Christian faith, Deacon Williams along with his wife and young family, joined the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in 1968 under the leadership of the late Reverend Peter L. Lias. On March 14, 1971, he become officially ordained as a church Deacon, where he joyfully served as a true servant leader, visiting the sick and shut-in, comforting grieving families, and providing spiritual support to members and non members alike.
For over 56 years, Deacon Williams faithfully served God and the Macedonia Missionary Baptist institution in positions of honor, trust, and leadership:
Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman of the Deacon Board;
Youth Sunday School Teacher; President and member of the Choir #1 and Choir #2;
Secretary and Founding member of the Macedonia Male Chorus
Chairman of the Trustee Board; Finance, Building, and Pulpit Committee member
Deacon Williams was also very instrumental in broadening the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church community outreach for Sunday School service, coordinating the purchase of the first transportation buses and serving as a faithful driver for many years.
On April 5, 2025, in recognition of his unwavering faith and service to the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church family, he was named Deacon Chairman Emeritus by Rev. Willie C. Barnes.
Through he many years of committed service to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Deacon Williams enjoyed providing a joyful noise to the Lord, with his favorite hymn, "A Charge to Keep, I Have".
With the steadfast support of his wife and strong Christian faith, Deacon Williams established a legacy for Godly love and family whose influences can still be felt far beyond the church walls and throughout the local community.
His dedication and contributions to church, community, and family reflect a lifetime of faith, leadership and service, in remembrance.
Deacon Williams was finally called home to rest on Thursday, April 3, 2025, after a brief and unexpected illness. He leaves behind this everlasting legacy to his devoted wife of 64 years, Zethel Loerine; three sons, Darrell Willams (Anitha), Dexter Willams (Bridget) and Donovan Williams (Cherish); daughter, Deidre Evans (Rudolph); grandchildren, Courtney Holley (Pacer), Kamyron Williams Joshua Williams, Tiara McMillan, Keenon Dukes, Ellah Williams, William Evans, and Donovan Williams, Jry sisters, Emily Chariton and Florine Miller; brother-in-law, Robert Harvey (Lucille); sisters-in-law, Minnie Bollar, Eva Harvey, Delores Harvey, Beverly Harvey, Debra Harvey and Johnnie Mae Williams; special cousin, Ted Williams (Jayn); six great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and close friends.
You may honor the legacy of Deacon Ernest A. Williams by donating to the Edgewater High School Basketball program at the link below. Your support will help to continue his passion for youth sports and dedication to the local community in which he served.