Thomas Loran Williams

FERRIDAY — Services for Thomas Loran Williams, 88, of Vidalia, who died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, at his residence surrounded by his family, will be 10 a.m. Monday at Young’s Funeral Home Chapel in Ferriday with the Rev. Dennis Baker officiating.

Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Natchez with full military honors under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Williams was a World War II Army Air Force veteran, serving as a tail gunner in the 9th Battalion.

He worked for Exxon Mobil for 32 years as a solar specialist before retiring 38 years ago.

Mr. Williams and his wife, Earline, were married in Goldsboro, Texas, on July 3, 1949.

He loved hunting, fishing and gardening. A simple man but a great storyteller, he was a loving man that really loved his wife, children, and especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Williams was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Rutledge Williams and Drucilla Harris Williams; one son, Jimmie Loran Williams Sr.; one granddaughter, Loran Elizabeth Williams; and an infant baby brother.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Earline Click Williams of Vidalia; daughters, Alana W. Braley and husband, Tony, of Vidalia and Becky Gray and husband, Eric, of Ferriday; daughter-in-law, Carlene Williams of Prairieville, La.; grandchildren, Jimmie Loran Williams Jr., Nathan Rutledge Williams and his wife, Donna, Travis Lee Williams, Shana Bray and husband, Jason, John Thomas Braley and wife, Bobbi, Brandon Ray Smith and wife, Melaine, Blake Karrington Smith and wife, Amelia, Jessica Cochran and husband Ben, Bo-ty Gray and Maggie Gray; 16 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Smith, Blake Smith, Becky Gray, Nathan Williams, Travis Williams and Jimmie L. Williams Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Braley, Zachary Williams, Austin Williams, Tyler Williams Jamous Bray and Bo-ty Gray.

The family would like to give special thanks to nurses Anna Laura Orr and Jessie Knight Creel of Camelia Hospice, his sitters Geraldine Jefferson, Erin Headricks and Irene Jefferson.