Jean Babington Williams III

Jean (Jay) Babington Williams, III passed away surrounded by his family on July 3, 2023 after a brief illness. Jay was born August 19,1954 in Durham, NC. Jay and his family moved to Jacksonville in 1958.

He was a graduate of Bishop Kenny High School, class of 1972. He attended Mercer University and was a graduate of the University of Florida, class of 1976, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Jean B. Williams, Jr. and Helen “Glo” Colee Williams, and nephew Jean Leahy Baker.

Jay is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan Owen Williams, and their daughters Lindsey Elizabeth Williams and Carolyn Williams Stone (Mark Andrew Jr), two grandsons Mark Andrew III (“Tripp”) Stone and Reed Jean Babington Stone, sister Helen Moody Baker (Tim), and brother James Colee Williams (Amy) and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jay represented Principal Financial Group for 33 years as a Senior Financial Representative, earning multiple professional designations including his CLU, ChFC, and his Master’s in Financial Services.

Jay was a runner, golfer and an avid Florida Gators fan. He loved being “Pop” to Tripp and Reed. Jay was a member of Timuquana Country Club. In the spirit of giving back, he was a founding member of the Friends of Stockton at John Stockton Elementary School. He served on the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair Association, the City of Jacksonville Ethics Commission, St. Vincent’s Foundation, and he also served as a Eucharistic Minister to patients in St. Vincent’s Hospital. Jay has been a lifelong member of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church but was very active at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Riverside while his daughter’s attended school there. He was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Paul’s and a member of the St. Paul’s Catholic School Parents Auxiliary. Jay volunteered for the American Cancer Society chairing the Cowford Ball with Susan as well as the Capital Campaign Committee to build the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Hope Lodge of Jacksonville.

Visitation will be Monday, July 10 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm followed by a Rosary service beginning at 7:00pm at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel at 4801 San Jose Blvd. The Funeral will be held at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church Tuesday, July 11 at 10:00am, followed by a reception at St. Matthew’s Schiavone Center. Interment will be held at Farnell Cemetery in Lake City, Florida, however, the family will gather at Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Crematory Inc at 2:30 pm, (3596 South Highway 441Lake City, FL 32056) and proceed to the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard M. Schulze Hope Lodge of Jacksonville (https://tinyurl.com/Hope-Lodge-Jacksonville- click the blue Donate to Jacksonville button) or St Vincent’s DePaul Society at St. Matthew’s Parish (1773 Blanding Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32210).