Jesse B. Williams, Jr.

Jesse B. Williams, Jr., 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 7, 2012. Born February 21, 1925 to the late Jesse and Connie Capel Williams, Jesse spent the majority of his childhood in Charlotte and Hamlet, NC. He graduated from Hamlet High School and Carolina Business College. He began his working career as a bookkeeper at Ira’s Department Store in Rockingham. He left there for a career with Life of Virginia, beginning in Rockingham and then moving to Spartanburg and Chester, SC. Upon retirement, he relocated back to Rockingham. Jesse was involved in many school and civic organizations. He was president of the Rockingham High School Booster Club, a member of the Lions Club and was actively involved in the Men’s Sunday School Class at The First Baptist Church in Rockingham. He was a member of the Rockingham Masonic Lodge 495 AF & AM and was a Shriner. Jesse will be remembered as a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and brother. Jesse’s love of life and his quick wit will always be part of our fond memories of him. He was predeceased by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Phila Owens Williams, a son, Jerry Addison Williams and a sister, Mary Emma Stanton. He is survived by his son Mark Williams and wife Anne of Charlotte; grandchildren Hunter Williams and wife Sallie, of Greenville, SC, Emily Williams King and husband Scott of Raleigh, John McLean Williams and Edmund Addison Williams of Charlotte; 3 great grandchildren; 2 brothers-in-law, Bill Owens and Gerald Owens and wife Thena and many loving nieces and nephews. A celebration of Jesse’s life will be held Saturday, July 14th at 2:00 at The First Baptist Church of Rockingham. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 13th at 7:00 at Carter Funeral Home, 705 South Caroline Street in Rockingham. The family would like to thank Dr. Gilbert Arenas and his staff for their devoted care of Jesse. The family also deeply appreciates the care Jesse received from Hospice of Scotland County and the loving staff of Morrison Manor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to The First Baptist Church, 201 Randolph Street, Rockingham, NC, 28379 or to Morrison Manor c/o Hospice of Scotland County, PO Box 1033, Laurinburg, NC 28353.