James Thomas Williams was born 18 July 1938 in Lincolnton, Georgia to the late Robert (Buster) Williams and Martha Hawes Williams. He is predeceased in the death by his infant daughter Beth Helene Williams and son, Lance Allen Williams, and his brothers, Roosevelt, Wesley, Clifford, Arthur and his sister Mary Williams Lyles.
At the age of 3 the family relocated to Garfield, New Jersey where James attended school through the 9th grade. The family moved again, this time to Passaic, New Jersey where James would attend and completed his education at Passaic High School. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Garfield, New Jersey which laid the foundation of his character and faith. James was popular and his nickname in his youth by his closest friends was Jimmy. In his early life, James developed an appreciation for boxing and God’s gift to create beautiful art paintings and sketches.
James enlisted in the U.S Navy from 1956 to 1959. After completing basic training, James score high in vocational testing and qualified as a medical corpsman and he was send to corpsman classes and Dental Technician school. After completing his training he was assigned to Norfolk Naval Dental Clinic. He was one of few of his race to qualify for this position.
While in Norfolk he met and married, Bettie Clemmons, now Bettie Hampton, to this union they had 6 children. Carol Ann, Lance Allen, Darrell Eugene, Richard Emerson, Rosalind Annette, and Beth Helene. James excelled in the Dental Technician field. In 1971 he opened his own business “Precision Labs”, in Norfolk and established himself in the paradental community as an expert technician. He would go on to work at various dental labs in both Passaic, NJ and Norfolk, VA. He set and fashioned the dentures for famed boxer, Sweet Pea Whitaker, with whom he was a friend.
Aside for his great love for his children and family, dad enjoyed jazz, fishing and cooking. He was a progressive thinker and fought for equal rights and justice. Nothing trumps his love for art. The walls of the homes of families and friends are adorned with his various paintings. It seemed each piece was a child that he raised. A creation of his own being, transferred to parchment. No matter the media, oil, chalk, pastel, acrylic, dad would transfer and craft the image to his satisfaction. He enjoyed seeing others marvel at his work. This was his passion! The highlight of his artistry are hanging in the VA Hospital for the blind in CT. Dad was considered legally blind when he painted and he earned a place of honor in the competition in spite of his blindness. Our dad was a very special person, often times he did not recognize his own greatest. He departed this life on 13 February, at the age of 83.
He is survived by: Daughter Carol (Lonnie) Barnes NC, Sylvia Williams (Widowed Wife of Lance Williams) CT, Darrell (Debra) Williams VA, Rosalind (Andreas) Gorges CA, and Richard Williams VA. He has 11 grand children and 8 great grandchildren as well as a host of nieces and nephews. But there are more. Dad helped raise many children and they were as his own children in his heart.
A visitation for James will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, Virginia 23502. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home.
James will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 6309 E. Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, Virginia 23502.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnnorfolk.com for the Williams family.
