April 26, 1924 – Jan. 30, 2018

 

NATCHEZ — Services for John W. “Big Blackie” Williams Jr., 93 of Natchez, who died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, in Natchez, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with Donnie Verucchi and Doug McCallister officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

 

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home.

Mr. Williams was born April 26, 1924, in Summit, the son of John Walton Williams and Leona Chishom Williams.

PawPaw was an avid hunter and fisherman at Old Creek and Giles Island. He loved to garden and also loved eating with the Breakfast Club at Hardee’s and McDonalds. He was a World War II veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served on three Navy ships: the S.S. John Erickson, the Alexander Donaldson and the S.S. H.G. Blasdel. He also received four medals: the European African Middle Eastern Campaign, the American Campaign, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign and the World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Williams was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Hazel Williams; one son, Thomas “Tommy” Williams; one daughter, Rebecca Jean Mahl; one grandchild, Novel Christine Cook; one son-in-law, Edward “Eddie” Price; one brother, Melvin Williams; and three sisters, Jessie Shivers, Wanzie Gordon and Ethel Williams.

Survivors include two daughters, Sue W. Price and Kaffy Wedgeworth and husband, Charles, all of Natchez; six grandchildren, Wendy Hill and husband, Brian, David Williams, Katherine Wilson and husband, Luke, all of Natchez, Kaffy Ann Wheless and husband, John, of Tyler, Texas, David Whittington and wife, Donna, of New Orleans, and Robert Whittington and wife, Penny, of Freeport, Fla.; seven great-grandchildren, David “Bo” Trim and wife, Chelsea, Emma Trim, Cole Trim, Lane Wheless, Madison Wheless, Reese Wilson and Levi Wilson; and one great-great- grandchild, David Drake Trim.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.