Horace Manly Williams

Horace Manly Williams, 86, of Norfolk, VA, passed away after a brief illness on Monday, May 22, 2023. Horace was a native of Newport News, VA, and was the son of the late Manly Horace Williams and Emma Goodwin Williams.

Horace loved his family, his many friends, basketball, boating, and jokes, in that order. He graduated from Newport News High School, where he participated in basketball, track, and football. In his senior year, he was the basketball team captain and was selected to the First Team All-State. He also held the NNHS scoring record with 44 points in a single game. After graduating from high school, he served his country in the United States Army. Thereafter, he attended Old Dominion University, where he again excelled in basketball. Horace continued playing basketball on local teams (Bermans, PIT, Larchmont Lobsters) until he was 77 years old. Over a 40-year period, he coached various teams in the PIT, high school summer leagues, and Norfolk Collegiate Little Mac. He was invited to try out for the Kentucky Colonels, which is now the Denver Nuggets. At age 60, he could still dunk.

Professionally, Horace worked for many years for Containership Agency, Inc. He was one of the very last of the old guard of the local waterfront community, a very colorful group who enjoyed life to the fullest. Horace was a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Maritime Association and the Hampton Roads Shipping Association. He was also a member of the HRSA Employers Negotiating Committee, where he worked with the International Longshoremen's Association union. Later, he enjoyed a second career in the commercial HVAC industry. He was also a longtime member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club.

He is predeceased by his parents; daughter Elizabeth Gates; and son Christopher Williams (Jennifer).

He is survived by his daughter Kimberly Williams; son Lee Williams (Melodie); daughter Nancy Allen (Edward); son Fenton Williams (Margaret); grandchildren Jason Gates; Weston Gates (Tiffany); Thomas Gates; Lee Ann Budge; William Aduja; Amber Aduja; Parker Allen; Mason Allen; Hudson Williams; Madeline Williams; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his longtime dear companion, Patricia McMichael, and her son Robert McMichael.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 7400 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23505, officiated by The Reverend David Lasalle.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Elizabeth River Project. https://elizabethriver.org

Online condolences may be offered at hdoliver.com.