Death claims Principal J.R. Williams

JENNINGS - A memorial service honoring the life of Jonathan Roy Williams, 57, will be held at Hubbard United Church of Christ in Gueydan, on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 1 p.m. Mr. Williams passed away peacefully Sunday evening after fighting a courageous battle against cancer. Visitation will be held at Matthews & Son Funeral Home in Jennings on Friday, October 30, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and will resume on Saturday, October 31 at Hubbard United Church of Christ at 11 a.m. until the time of his memorial service. Mr. Williams will be laid to rest in the Gueydan Cemetery.

Williams was born in Gueydan to the late Leroy and Helen Maxile Williams in March of 1952. He was an employee of the Vermilion Parish School Board for 34 years and the principal at Jesse Owens. He had a passion for teaching our community’s young people and guiding them to a brighter and successful future. He will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives he touched.

Leaving behind to cherish his memory is his beloved wife and best friend of 36 years, Althea Beasley Williams of Jennings; one son, Jermaine Williams and his wife, Mie, of Pearland, Texas; one daughter, Brooke, and her husband, Dwayne Mitchell, of Holon, Israel; two brothers, Harvey Williams, Sr. and his wife, Ada, of Jennings and Stuart Williams and his wife, Adie, of Lafayette; three sisters, Helena and her husband, Clarence Williams, Jr., of California, Viola Hope Williams of Baytown, Texas, and Constance, and her husband, Thomas Williams, Sr. also of Baytown; two aunts, Maebelle Maxie of Gueydan and Esther and her husband James Chavis, Sr. of Austin, Texas; and his four beautiful grandchildren, Kaleb and Jordan Williams and Kennedy and Dwayne Mitchell.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Leroy and Helen Maxile Williams; one brother, Howard Clayton, and his stepfather, Whitney Broussard.

Carrying Mr. Williams to his final resting place will be Harvey Williams, Jr., Christopher Williams, Stanley Mills, Jr., Shelby Johnson, Gerard Moore, and Sterling Beasley. Honorary pallbearers will include Dwayne Mitchell, Sr., James Chavis, Jr., Carl Beasley, Charles Beasley, Sr., Spencer Beasley, Harvey Williams, Sr., Stuart Williams, Daniel Johnson, Thomas Williams, Sr., Clarence Williams, Jr., Stanford Beasley, Sr., Charles Beasley, Jr., and Ralph Shaffie.

Matthews & Son Funeral Home of Gueydan and Jennings is in charge of arrangements.