Charles J. Williams

Charles Judson Williams, III, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home overlooking the St. Johns River on Monday, February 20, 2012. He was 86. He was born on November 28, 1925 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the son of Louise Finley Williams and Patrick Murphy Williams.

Better known by his nick name “Mike”, he attended McCallie School for Boys in Chattanooga, TN, graduating in 1943. Because of war-time conditions, he entered Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 2 weeks later and was there until March 1944 when he joined the Army Air Corp at age 18. He served in the Air Corps for two years and became an aerial gunner on a B-29 flying out of Saipan. His crew was credited with flying 13 missions over Japan.

He re-entered Davidson College graduating in 1949. While at Davidson, he played on the tennis, basketball and football teams, a sports trifecta. He was considered by his Wildcat peers as the best athlete of his era, earning 10 letters in all. In basketball, he played four seasons (1944, ’47, ’49) and was co-captain for two years. In football, he played three seasons (1943, ’47, ’48) and was a member of the tennis team for two years. He was named all-state in basketball and was a third team All-Southern Conference selection. At Davidson, he was a member of the Student Council, junior class president, president of Kappa Sigma and was named to Who’s Who Among American College Students. In 2000, he was inducted into the Davidson Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike was married to Jacqueline Chalmers of Portland, Oregon for 23 years, with whom he had four sons, and 33 years to Estelle Foerster of Jacksonville.

Mike moved to Jacksonville in 1950 to work with Moore Dry Kiln Company, and has been a resident ever since. In 1977, after MDK Co. merged with a larger company, Mike took over the Industrial Distribution Division of MDK and named it Power and Pumps, Inc. He served as the President/CEO until 1999, then became Chairman.

In Jacksonville, Mike has been a member of the Jacksonville Rotary Club since 1965, serving as President from 1994-95. He has been a Trustee of the Edna Sproull Williams Foundation since 1982, serving terms as Chairman. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Christian Healing Ministries (as President), Riverside Hospital and Riverside Hospital Foundation.

Mike was thoughtful, patient, forgiving, steadfast in his beliefs, morals and ethics with a winning smile and an accommodating laugh. He was a devout Christian and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and St. Marks Episcopal Church. He loved his sports whether it was golf, tennis, basketball, football: he had all the bases covered.

He is survived by four sons: Charles J. Williams, Jr. (Orlando), John C. Williams (Peggy Sue), Jacksonville, David F. Williams (Lisa), Jacksonville, and Robert W. Williams (Heidi), Cary, North Carolina. Mike had eight grandchildren: Finley, Lindy, and Andrew Williams, Maggie, Nadia and Murphy Williams, and Nathan and Abby Williams. Mike has two step-children: David Foerster (Atlanta) and Margaret Bratton (Raleigh, N.C.) He is survived by one brother, Patrick M. Williams of Jacksonville and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at St. Marks Episcopal Church (4129 Oxford Avenue, Jacksonville, 32210) at 3:30 pm. on Saturday, February 25, with a reception to follow in Leatherbury Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Christian Healing Ministries, P.O. Box 9520, Jacksonville, Fl, 32208.

Arrangements are by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 729 S. Edgewood Ave. , Jacksonville, 32205; 904-388-2711