Elie Howard Williams

Published 3:43 pm Monday, September 2, 2019

Mr. Elie Howard Williams, 92, of 6577 E.H. Williams Road, Jamesville, peacefully left this earth on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, at his home.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Maple Grove Christian Church in the Farm Life Community, with Joey Brickhouse and Richard Smartnick officiating. Burial will follow at the family cemetery. Jeff Johnson, Brian Ragan, Bryan Padgette, Josh Gurkin, Reid Mizelle, Christopher Williams, Stephen Smith and Samuel Joyce will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pall bearers are J.B. Coltrain, Willie Hardison, Clifton Peele, Mike O’Neal, Bobby Roberson and Brian Maynard.

Mr. Williams was born in Bertie County on April 18, 1927. He was the son of the late William Lawrence Williams and Ada Victoria Gardner Williams. He retired in July 1, 1988, after 37 1/2 years of service at Dominion NC Power (VEPCO). He served in the Navy during World War II from June 26, 1944 to March 13, 1946, as a 3rd Class Boatswain’s Mate on the USS Trego, AKA-78. He remained an active member of the American Legion and Farm Life Ruritan Club as long as his health allowed.

Mr. Williams was proud and felt blessed by the women God chose for him to marry. He married Pearl (Nookie) Getsinger Williams in 1948. She passed away in 1969 after a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Williams married Amy Lou Hardison Williams in 1971. She also preceded him in death in 2008 after gracefully battling breast cancer twice. He was a faithful member of Maple Grove Christian Church where he served as a deacon and church treasurer.

Survivors include children Winnie Williams Morgan and husband Ken, of Hillsborough, Alan Howard Williams, of Wilmington, Polly Williams Padgette and husband Ronnie, of Knightdale, Beth Williams Mizelle and husband Steve, of Washington, Dr. Billy Williams and wife Cathy, of Raleigh, and Caroline Williams Joyce and husband Chuck, of Kernersville; 13 grandchildren, Crecia Johnson and Jamie Ragan; Bryan Padgette and Ashley Padgette; Josh Gurkin, Mandy Gurkin, Reid Mizelle, and Brett Mizelle; Courtney Williams Smith, Christopher Williams, and Amy Grace Williams; Kelli Joyce and Sam Joyce; and 10 great-grandchildren: Nash, Rosie, Henry and Gracie Millner; Cassie Johnson; Cole and Greyson Ragan; Neily, Wills and George Padgette; Ryder Selby and Kora Mizelle; Charlotte Gurkin; and arriving in January, baby girl Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives; and his siblings, Chloe Haskins, Ester Culpepper, Eula Brown, James Williams, Joshua Lawrence Williams and Mary Louise McClure.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Maple Grove Christian Church Family Life Center and at other times at the family home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Maple Grove Christian Church or the charity of your choice. Memorial donations should be mailed to the church office at 1500 Maple Grove Church Road, Jamesville, NC 27846.

Condolences may be addressed to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Williams Family.