Rev. R. V. Williams

Rev. R. V. Williams (photo, veteran) ADEL The Rev. R. V. Williams, 88, of Adel, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Leila United Methodist Church with burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Quitman. Officiating will be the Revs. Kenneth Matthews, Farrell Harper, Dan Robinson and V. L Daughtry. Pallbearers will be Ricky Roberson, Tim Jerry, the Rev. Richard Nash, Todd Griffin, the Rev. Mike Bennett and Stanley Griffin. Honorary pallbearers will be Brandon Roe, Joe Carol Godwin, Stanley Williams, the Rev. Ronald Parten, Carl Pafford and Gary Graham. Rev. Williams was born Feb. 14, 1924, in Treutlen County, Ga., the son of the late Soloman Wayne Williams and Mattie Pearl Page Williams. An Army veteran, he was a retired minister and a retired principal and teacher who served 40 years in Twiggs, Colquitt and Cook counties. He was a member of Leila United Methodist Church. Rev. Williams moved to Colquitt County in 1936 and graduated from Doerun High School. He served in the Army as a military policeman in Brady, Texas, and Hawaii; he achieved the rank of private first class. He earned his two-year degree from Norman College in Norman Park, his four-year degree from Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, Ga., a master's degree in school administration from Florida State University and a five-year degree from Emory University. He taught both sixth and seventh grades and drove a school bus while in Colquitt County. He became principal of Sparks and Lenox schools in 1963 and moved to Cook County. He was principal at Sparks until 1970 and at Lenox until 1986, when he retired. In 1969, Bishop Smith ordained him as a deacon in the United Methodist Church at First UMC in Valdosta. He went on to serve as a United Methodist minister in the Valdosta District for 38 years. He was pastor of Salem UMC for seven years, Shiloh UMC for three years, Chula-Harding UMC for four years, Leila-Weeks UMC for nine years, Evelyn UMC for five years, Pine Level UMC for one year and Kelley UMC for 10 years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of more than 65 years, Sue G. Williams; brothers, Bill Williams, Albra Williams, Walter Gilby Williams, Eschol Russell Williams and Julian Willard Williams; and sisters, Florence L. Johnson and Marion Williams. Survivors include a son, the Rev. O. Ken Williams and wife Mary Ann Sutton Williams of Adel; brothers, Bronson Williams of Quitman, Paul Williams of Stone Mountain and Frank Williams of Brunswick; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at Purvis Funeral Home in Adel and 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Leila United Methodist Church prior to the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker Funeral Home. Please leave condolences for the family at www.moultrieobserver.com or www.bakerfuneralhomeofmoultrie.com .