Marvin Harris Williams Jr.

Passed away on June 4, 2023 Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Bill was predeceased by his parents Wilma Griggs Maxey and Marvin Harris Williams, Sr.; his sisters Barbara “Bobbie” Williams and Betty Sanchez; his eldest son, David K. Williams and his grand-daughter Kelly Spencer. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Doug Williams and Judy Williams; daughter and son-in-law Leslie W. Spencer and Philip Spencer; 9 grandchildren, Lindsey Williams, Melanie Williams, Cara Renfrow, Christopher Williams, Shelby Williams, Dana Macke, Stacey Spencer and Sean Spencer; many great grandchildren and his “adopted” daughter Denisse Mazu and her family.

Bill grew up in Tampa, Florida. He was known as “Buddy” by his family and friends. His family ran a Sunoco station and 2 Pure Oil stations. During World War II, due to lack of supplies, and men to work at the stations, the family had to close all but one station. Bill missed a half a year of school because he had to work at the station during the war. At an early age, Bill's passion for sailing began on Tampa Bay where he hung out with his friend Charlie Morgan (who later became a famous boat builder). At 17, Bill left school to join the Navy. He promised his mom that, if she would sign a waiver allowing him to join the navy, he would complete his high school education (which he did). After completing basic training in San Diego, he was assigned to a destroyer in San Francisco that performed training exercises in Alaska. He became the youngest Second Class Petty Officer in the Navy. His duties took him to Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, and eventually Korea (during the war). He served on both the USS Floyd B. Parks and the USS Eversole. His Navy service ended in 1951.

Following his discharge from the Navy, he joined the Air Force as a Tech Sergeant and he was assigned to Shaw Airforce base, South Carolina. He applied for and was accepted to OCS. While in the Air Force, he met and married Patricia Walton (who was also serving in the AirForce). Pat didn’t like the nickname “Buddy”, so she renamed him “Bill”. Their first son, David, was born in September 1953.

Following his discharge from the Air Force in 1955, he enrolled at LSU. Bill graduated from LSU in three years as the “Outstanding Senior” in engineering at LSU. He was then awarded The US Steel Foundation Fellowship to attend Georgia Tech where he obtained his Masters degree in civil engineering. His son Douglas was born in Atlanta in November 1958.

In 1960, Bill took a job with Enjay Chemical Company (became Exxon Chemical Company) and moved his family to New Jersey. His daughter, Leslie, was born in April 1962. During his time in New Jersey, he pursued his love of being on the water and bought a Lightning sailboat. They frequently launched his boat at Tom’s River, to sail and race on Barnegat Bay.

In February 1972, Exxon transferred Bill to Houston Texas. In 1976 Bill left Exxon to pursue his second career as a home builder. Throughout his life, he continued to pursue his passion for sailing. While still working, he purchased a Ranger 33, and spent many summers sailing with friends and family in and around Galveston Bay (including Jayne Edison, an “adopted” family menber).

After his retirement at the age of 68, Bill’s adventures on the sea were a bit legendary. He purchased and refurbished a Morgan 382 sailboat (S/V Sno Virgin), which was designed by his childhood friend, Charlie Morgan. He then set sail on a memorable maiden voyage with his two sons from Galveston Texas to Fort Myers Florida. After spending time updating and equipping the Sno Virgin for a life on the open seas, he set sail for the Caribbean, returning to the States occasionally. From then on, he spent almost 20 years going from one sailing adventure to another. He sailed to Cuba, Isla Mujeres, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras (he loved the Bay Islands, particularly Roatan). He sailed to Columbia and the San Blas islands of Panama, and went through the Panama Canal. At the age of 80, he learned to scuba dive to further enhance his adventures across the Caribbean. His hobbies into his 80s included whitewater rafting, exploring Mayan ruins, and zip lining. Bill was a true adventurer. When he wasn’t on his boat, he spent time visiting and taking trips with his kids and grandkids, across the U.S. and Europe.

From time to time, he would take on temporary crew to assist in longer open water sailing trips It was during one of these adventures that he met Denisse Mazu, a young lady from Chile. Denisse sailed with him from Panama to Columbia and back to Roatan over a 2 year period. They stayed in touch and continued to meet up from time to time. They became the best of friends and he considered her his adopted daughter.

At the age of 90, Bill left his boat, donated it to charity, and moved back to Baton Rouge. He stayed in touch with his sailing friends and shared his adventures with his landlubber friends.

The family plans to celebrate his incredible life, with a trip to Roatan, where we will gather with those who loved him to spread his ashes across the warm beautiful waters that he loved so much. Dad believed in promoting programs that introduced youths to sailing. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to Sail Nauticus Academy in Norfolk, Va.