Adolphus Williams Jr.

LENOIR, N.C. — Adolphus A. Williams Jr. died peacefully at the Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care in Lenoir surrounded by his family members.

Adolphus A. (Andy) Williams was born to the late Belva and Adolphus A. Williams Sr. on Jan. 29, 1927 in the onetime Seaboard Railway hub of Hamlet, North Carolina.

Andy graduated from Hamlet High School in May of 1947 and enjoyed his time as a football player of some renown. It was during this time that he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He also participated as a Golden Glove boxer while in high school, college and the service. He served as a Navy corpsman during World War II. While he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he pledged the Phi Delta fraternity and during the summers attended the Platoon Leaders Class in Quantico, Virginia.

Following his military service and graduation from college, Andy stared his career with Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph progressing from sales to manager of the Statesville, North Carolina facility. He retired as the public relations manager in Lenoir.

During his retirement, Andy and his wife Bird both enjoyed their association with First Baptist Church of Lenoir. He was a longtime Sunday school teacher and life deacon. He especially enjoyed his summers working with his good buddy, Lucie Cook at vacation Bible school. Up until his later years, he was an avid golfer and racquetball player.

Andy is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Bird Ramsey Williams; sons, Adolphus A. (Sandy) Williams and wife Alice of Chesapeake, Virginia, Brockton Ramsey Williams and wife Andrea of Nashville, Tennessee and Bradley Wren Williams of Charlottesville, Virginia; and grandchildren, Carrie Bird Williams of Charleston, South Carolina, Corbin Hedley Williams of Charleston, South Carolina, Brandi Lee Williams of Charlottesville, Virginia, Caroline Grace Williams of Nashville, Tennessee and Christian Hedley Williams of Nashville, Tennessee.

A celebration of Andy's life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Lenoir with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Hinton officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645 or the Youth Scholarship Fund of First Baptist Church, 304 Main Street, NW Lenoir, NC 28645.

Online condolences may be sent to the Williams family at www.evansfuneralservice.com.

Evans Funeral Service and Crematory of Lenoir is serving the Williams family.

Paid obituary

The Richmond County Daily Journal

Friday, Feb. 20, 2015