James E Williams

James Ellis Williams, 88, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2014 at the Mayo Hospital in Jacksonville. Born December 18, 1925 to Roger and Lois Williams in Lagrange, North Carolina, Jim graduated Lagrange High in 1943, attended Mars Hill College for one semester before joining the US Army and serving in the 3rd Battalion, 310th Infantry during World War II. He earned a Purple Heart for injuries received during the Battle of the Bulge in Europe. Upon his return to the states, Jim attended and graduated Wake Forest University in 1949, then Wake Forest Law School in 1951. After brief stints with the Clerk of the Johnson County Court and as a private practitioner in Clayton, North Carolina, Jim began his career with CSX, formerly Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Seaboard Coastline Railroad. He was hired by the Atlantic Coast Line Law Department headed by Prime F. Osborn in 1955 in Wilmington, NC. Jim came to Jacksonville with the railroad in 1960, where he remained employed until his retirement in 1985. He was a General Attorney handling claims against the railroad, and retired Senior Counsel heading up the Claims Division. After retirement, Jim served Of Counsel for the Jacksonville Law firm Moseley Prichard Parrish Knight & Jones. Jim was an active member of the Florida Bar Association, National Association of Trial Lawyers, Association of American Railroads and the Railroad Trial Council. He was also a 32° Freemason in the Albert J. Russell Lodge and a past president of the Arlingwood Civic Club. Jim was a long time member of Parkwood Baptist Church and in recent years attended Fleming Island Presbyterian Church when his health allowed. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Martha, with whom he just celebrated his58th anniversary on June 16th, his sons and their spouses, Mark and Natalie, Whit and Tricia, and five grandchildren including Jenna, Peyton, Caitlin, Nick and Olivia. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Buster and John. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 30, 2014 at 11 AM at Fleming Island Presbyterian Church located at 1743 County Road 220, Fleming Island, FL 32003. His family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Fleming Island Presbyterian Church Building Fund or Dreams Come True (www.dreamscometrue.org).