Elmer F. Williams

father Elmer, mother Catherine, brother Bernard and sister Charlotte after completing his

service to the Lord on earth on August 21, 2017. Elmer (or Smiley as he

was affectionately known) was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and called Texas his home.

Smiley was dedicated to public service and spent all of his adult employment

years serving his country. His military career included four years in the United States Marine

Corps where he served in Food Service and sixteen years in the United States Air Force where

he served in Contracting and Social Actions career fields. His military assignments included tours in:

Parris Island, South Carolina; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; several

locations in the Far East; Niagara Falls, New York; Lajes Field Azores, Portugal and Offutt Air

Force Base, Nebraska. During his illustrious military career, he was the first person selected to

the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in the Social Actions career field. As a Chief Master Sergeant

selectee, he was a graduate of the first class at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy; was selected as

an Outstanding Young Man in America and was selected as one of the Twelve Outstanding Airmen

in the United States Air Force. He retired from active duty on January 1, 1975 with the rank of

Chief Master Sergeant with 20 years of military service.

Afterwards, he began his second career in the federal government. His first

assignments were as a Race Relations Instructor and Staffing Specialist at Webb Air Force Base (AFB)

in Big Spring, Texas. While at Webb AFB he was selected by the Department of the Air Force to

teach Race Relations to General Officers assigned to the Pentagon. Throughout the remainder

of his federal career he worked in Human Resources. Some of his major federal service

assignments after Webb Air Force Base were: Chief Personnel Management Office at Lackland

Air Force Base; Director of Human Resources at Howard Air Force Base, Panama, where he was

selected as Human Resources Officer of the Year by the Tactical Air Command (now Air Mobility

Command); Director of Human Resources Defense Contract Administration Region Dallas,

Texas; Director of Human Resource Pirmasens Germany, Director of Human Resources

Kaiserslautern, Germany and Director of Human Resources Operations Center Seckenheim,

Germany. He was appointed by the Secretary of the Army into the Senior Executive Service and

was tasked with the development of the Civilian Human Resources Agency located in Aberdeen

Proving Ground, Maryland. In this position, he supervised a workforce of 1,620 employees

operating throughout the continental United States. He was the first individual to ever hold

this position. Smiley was a compulsive worker, a skillful planner and an organizer whose

talents carried him from modest circumstances in Baltimore, Maryland to the highest enlisted

rank in the military as well as the highest civilian rank in civil service. He retired from the federal

government in 2001 after working 27 years and relocated to San Antonio, Texas. His

combined military and federal time equated to a total of 47 years. Throughout his military and

civilian careers, he received numerous awards with the most prestigious awards being the

Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, four Meritorious Medals, and numerous

Commendations. Upon his arrival in San Antonio, he became immersed in volunteerism. He was a Life Member

of the NAACP. For many years he served on the Executive Committee at the local NAACP as

well as the Complaints Manager assisting with the operation of the NAACP and persons with

their discrimination complaints. He served as a Commissioner on the Firefighters' and Police

Officers' Civil Service Commission. He was a Board of Director member at Parent Child

Incorporated, as well as a Member of the Texas State Bar Grievance Panel. Smiley was

appointed by the State of Texas Supreme Court to serve on the Texas State Supreme Court

Grievance Oversight Committee. He was a life member of the Fred Brock Post 828 American

Legion. Noted for his oral communications abilities, he was a highly requested Black History

and Martin Luther King speaker as well as a presenter on the subject of Leadership and

Management at workshops in and outside of the city of San Antonio. He received his Bachelor

of Applied Arts and Sciences from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas and

a Master of Arts from Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri.

He is survived by his loving wife Sandra (Naylor); children Karan Y. Williams, Cheryl F. Williams,

Michele A. Williams, Elmer F. Williams II, Yolanda E. Pearson, Jonathan M. Williams, Brandie S.

Williams, and Marques A. (Jo An) Williams. His grand and great grandchildren include Bryan

Williams, Yakeda Pearson, Sabrina Williams, Micaela Oliver, Marques A. Williams II, Kahlil

Williams, Jordan Williams, and Jaden Williams. He has two step-daughters, Georgeana L. Green

and Geannette Y. Green and one step-son, Wilburn G. Tanner III. His only surviving brother Vernon T. (Harriet L.) Williams.

His lasting contribution to humanity is the E.F. “Smiley” & Sandra Williams Endowed Founders

Scholarship at Northeast Lakeview Junior College.

Visitation for Smiley will be held on Monday, August 28, 2017 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with a rosary beginning at 7:00pm at Sunset Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held on St. Cecilia's Catholic Church at 12:00pm with interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Immediate following Burial there will be a Repast (Reception/Fellowship) is at the below address: Second Baptist Church 3310 E. Commerce St. San Antonio, TX 78220 click the link for directions on how to get there. https://www.mapquest.com/directions/list/2/us/texas/fort-sam-houston-national-cemetery-303618525/to/us/texas/second-baptist-church-9641645

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home, San Antonio, TX.