Hubert H Williams

Hubert H. Williams, age 93, passed away at his home on his cherished farm, surrounded by loving care, on Friday, March 17, 2017. Visitation will be at the George A. Smith and Sons South Chapel on Sunday, March 19 from 2 pm to 5 pm. Funeral services will be on Monday, March 20 at 2 pm with visitation at 1 pm at the Anderson Presbyterian Church, 899 Steam Mill Ferry Rd., followed by burial at Ebenezer Cemetery in Malesus.

He was born on February 11, 1924, in Madison County, the son of Andrew Leroy Williams, Sr. and Claribel Robinson Williams. He was married to Betty Juanita Watlington on July 20, 1950.

He graduated from J.B. Young High School, then attended army air force training during World War II. The army transferred him to the infantry based on current needs. He was wounded twice in combat and was presented with two purple hearts. Strapped to the hood of a jeep, he was carried back from the front line to a field hospital in Aachen, Germany. He spent the next year in hospitals in Paris, London, and Memphis. His hitchhiked ride home to Jackson, TN was a glorious return.

He attended the University of Tennessee earning an engineering degree and began work for Chickasaw Electric Cooperative in Henderson County. A few years later he transitioned to Southwest Tennessee Electric Cooperative in Brownsville, working his way to the General Manger position, retiring after 40 years.

He and Betty raised five children on their farm outside of Jackson. The farming business, of raising cows, hay and corn and driving John Deere tractors fed his spirit and provided tuition for a few of his children!

Hubert was a pre-eminent leader in the community, providing guidance on the board of Youth Town for 53 years; being named a Paul Harris fellow sustaining member of the Rotary club after 51 years of service; and providing leadership to the Madison Hall and Jackson communities through other activities and life examples. He and Betty volunteered as voting officials for many years, and worked with the literacy council among other community activities. He, personally affected many lives on a one to one basis.

He was an elder from 1963 to 2017 at the Anderson Presbyterian Church, which his grandfather founded in1893. Besides farming, he enjoyed genealogy, history, and continuous learning. He is the author of three books, and co-author of another about family and history.

Preceding him in death are his parents, and a son, Hubert Howard Williams, Jr., two brothers, Andrew Leroy Williams, David Cornelius Williams, one sister, Nancy Lou Turner.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, one brother, Kenneth (Ginger) of Sikeston, MO, two sisters, Clara Lynn Williams of Jackson, TN, Lutie Brown (Bob) of Lexington, TN, three daughters, Ellen Williams (Tom Milton) of Asheville, NC, Serena Jackson (Mark) of Kalispell, MT, Molly Warren (Sam) of Jackson, TN, one son, Dan Williams (Susie) of Aiken, SC, four grandchildren, Anna Shown (Noah) of Spanway, WA, Sarah Williams of Las Vegas, NM, Wesley Jackson (Leisa) of Kalispell, MT, and Caroline Warren of Orlando, FL, two great grandchildren, Jaycen Jackson, Allison Jackson and a host of close in-laws and friends.

Thanks go to special care givers, Gwen Newton, Pam Stokes, and Faye Rushing. Memorials may be made to Anderson Presbyterian Church, c/o Diane Harris, 43 Potts Chapel Rd., Jackson, TN, 38301, Madison Hall Community Club, c/o Marion Hines, 1789 Steam Mill Ferry Rd., Jackson, TN, 38301 and Youth Town, PO Box 1385, Jackson, TN 38302-1385