Roy Williams

Roy Lee Williams, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 17, 2011, in Abilene, Texas at the age of 90. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 20 at the First Baptist Church in Abilene. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco, Texas. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, January 19 at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy 277 South.

Roy was born on April 14, 1920 in Scranton, Texas, and was the oldest of 4 sons of Roy Lee Williams, Sr. and Vivian Ila Speegle Williams. After graduating from Putnam High School, he attended and graduated from HardinSimmons University in 1943. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy as a chaplains assistant and attended officers training school. In 1946 he enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and served as minister of education, music, and youth at Diamond Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth. He was minister of education and music at First Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas from 1949 to 1953 before becoming the minister of education at the First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas 1954 to 1958 and the First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas 1958 to 1964. He served as Director of Church Services for the Union Baptist Association from 1964 to 1988 and Interim Executive Director for the association in 1989. In retirement he preached and ministered to numerous churches in the Houston area, and was a volunteer chaplain at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He sang with the Singing Men of Southeast Texas and was a tour host for vacationers to the Holy Land, Europe, China, and other countries in the East. In 1998 Roy Lee and his wife moved back to Abilene where they enjoyed reuniting with friends and family members in West Texas. They were loyal members of First Baptist Church. Mr. Williams will be remembered for his engaging and optimistic personality. He dedicated his life to serving others and blessed the lives of thousands through his expression of Christian charity, even in the last weeks of his life.

He is survived by his faithful and devoted wife of 70 years, Mary Lou Eubank Williams two sons, Marvin Lee and Hollis Dale Williams 5 grandchildren, 4 greatgrand children, and a younger brother, Stanley Williams in Waco.

The family would like to thank Royal Estates, Wisteria Place, and Hendrick Hospice Care for the love and support they provided. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Roy Lee and Mary Lou Williams Scholarship at HardinSimmons University.

Visitation

Elmwood Funeral Home
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
6:30 till 7:00 PM

Service

First Baptist Church
N 3RD Street
Abilene, TX  79606
Thursday, January 20, 2011
2:00 PM

Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery
Cisco, TX  79606