Samuel Williams

COLUMBIA, AL..Samuel Peler Williams, Jr., a resident of Columbia, Alabama, died Wednesday afternoon, September 21, 2011, in a Dothan hospital. He was 84. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, September 24, 2011, in the First Baptist Church of Columbia with Reverend Randall Johnson and Reverend Robert Strickland officiating. Serving as active pallbearers will be Joe Owen, Anthony Howard, Billy Lanford, Tim Pitchford, Curtis Smith and Ben Armstrong. The grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. Graveside services, with military honors, will follow in the Columbia City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 P.M. Saturday in the church sanctuary. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Columbia, P.O. Box 267, Columbia, Alabama 36319. Mr. Williams was born in Snowhill, Alabama in Wilcox County but was reared in Eufaula, son of the late Samuel Peler Williams, Sr. and Cherry Williams. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country during World War II and later graduated from Eufaula High School. After the war, Mr. Williams enrolled in Troy State Teacher's College where he received a B.S. Degree in Education and lettered in football and baseball. As a young man, Mr. Williams formerly played professional baseball in the Alabama-Florida League. In later years, he was initiated into the Delta Chi Social Fraternity and was named a big brother in the Alpha Delta Pi Social Sorority while pursuing an advanced degree at Troy State University. Mr. Williams retired from Ashford High School as a mathematics teacher and football coach. In earlier years, he taught and coached at Houston County High School in Columbia, Bainbridge High School in Bainbridge, Georgia, Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Early County High School in Blakely, Georgia. Mr. Williams was a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbia where he served as a Deacon. He was also a member of the Columbia Lions Club and formerly served as a city councilman. Surviving relatives include his wife, Grace Beasley (Bebe) Williams, Columbia, AL; a daughter, Dianna Williams Upchurch and husband, Robert (Bob) Upchurch, Livingston, AL; a son, Joshua H. Williams and wife, Suzanne Studstill Williams, Nashville, TN; five grandchildren, Robert Upchurch and wife, Annie; Sam Upchurch, John Upchurch, Sydney Foshee and Greeley Foshee; two great-grandchildren, Caroline Upchurch and William Upchurch; two sisters, Nan Norton, Chipley, FL; and Bernice Storey, Eufaula, AL; a brother-in-law, John P. Beasley and wife, Jean, Columbia, AL; several nieces and nephews. Mr. Williams was preceded in death by a sister, Lila Mae Lott; and five brothers, Wilson Williams, James Williams, Hugh Williams, Robert Williams and Jake Williams. Holman-Headland Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. 334-693-3371. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com