The Shadow
SMITHFIELD, N.C. – Richard Jerome Williams, 70, died peacefully on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009.
Born in Nash County, N.C. on May 20, 1939, he is the son of Lizzie Williams of Wilson and the late Reece Williams.
Richard retired at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smithfield, N.C. with 42 years of service. He was consecrated Director of Christian Education in 1967. In 1997, he became an Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Richard received the Smithfield Jaycee’s Distinguished Citizens Award along with the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award and Outstanding Religious Leader. In 1999, he received Smithfield’s Citizen of the Year and was a recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award.
In addition to his mother, Richard is survived by his wife, Carolyn Walton Williams; son, Jason Williams and wife Lacy of Raleigh, N.C.; daughter, Anna E. Williams and fiancée’ Erik Schnatterly of Wilmington, N.C.; and a sister, Judy Hester of Wilson, N.C. Carolyn Walton Williams is the daughter of Eloise Rose Walton, deceased, and the granddaughter of Joseph Robert and Clara Bush Rose, both deceased, of Covington.
A funeral service will be conducted Friday at 2 p.m. in Centenary United Methodist Church in Smithfield, N.C.
The family will receive friends at the church Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 140 E. Market Street, Smithfield, N.C. 27577.
