Richard Williams

God originally created the world free of sin and death. When mankind rebelled against Him (Gen. 3), we broke our relationship with God the Father and the curse of death and sin began to rule. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He broke the power of both, and “since we have been united with Him in His death” through faith, “we will also be raised to life as He was” (Rom. 6:5). During this most difficult time in our nation, it's hard to see our loved ones transition. 

Today, we gather to celebrate the life and legacy of a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, brother-in-law, cousin and friend, Richard Williams, Sr.  He was affectionately called “Gus” by his family and friends.

Richard Williams, Sr. was born on March 2, 1939 in Hampton County, South Carolina to the late Clifford Williams and the late Essie Wallace-Williams. He was educated in the public schools of Hampton County. At an early age, Richard join First Thankful Fillybranch Baptist Church, where he served faithfully until his transitioning.  At the age of thirteen, he began working on the farm with his father. This experience taught him how to drive a truck, the valuable and ethics of hard work, and how to become a productive and responsible man. After many years on the farm, he secured jobs as a truck driver with Causey Grain & Company and Youmans Farm Incorporation both in Furman, South Carolina. Looking for ways to broaden his horizon, he decided to become an entrepreneur by launching his own farming business. Due to his love and passion for driving trucks, Richard decided to start his own trucking company, Richard Williams Trucking, Estill, South Carolina. 

Richard Williams, Sr. transitioned from his earthly home on Sunday, April 12, 2020, Memorial medical Center, Savannah, Georgia.

His hobbies were going fishing, driving his truck, wearing his heavily starched jeans with his cowboy shoes, attending gospel programs of both professional and local artist like: Lee Williams, The Twilights, Spiritual Q’s, and Gerald Frazier and the Gospel Warriors. He also enjoyed spending lots of time with his family. To his friends, he was known as “Dancing Gus” because he loved to dance.

On January 17, 1964, he was joined in holy matrimony to the love of his life, whom he met at the age of fifteen and married at the age of sixteen, Florie Jane Beckett Williams. They were married for 56 years and to this union, they were blessed with seven children.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; two children, Richard Williams, Jr. and Jackie Michelle Williams-Bennett; four sisters, Vidalia Williams-Gant, Verdell Williams-Gant, Alvester Williams-Winzey, and Dorothy Williams-Russell; two brother, Emmanuel Williams and Issac Williams.

His memory will forever be cherished by his family and friends: loving wife, Florie Jane Beckett-Williams of the home; six daughters, Evangelist Janet Williams and Joyce Irene Williams both of Estill, SC, Evangelist Jacklyn Elaine Williams, Savannah, GA, Melissa Elease Williams, Fairfax, SC, Richie Dean Williams, Grovetown, GA, and Janea Antieniece, Charleston, SC; one son, Justin Centill Garvin, Charleston, SC; thirteen grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; three sisters, Rebecca  Williams and Ruby Lee Williams-Green both of Savannah, GA, and Johnny Mae Wright, Ridgeland, SC; three brothers, Andrew Williams, Savannah, GA, Mac Arthur (Andrea) Williams, Furman, SC and Marion Lee (Sarah) Williams, Estill, SC; five grandchildren reared in the home as his children, Ashley Nicole (Quinton) Buckner, Aaron Demarco Loadholt, Whitney Shereika (Issac) Gray, Jeremy Leonard Bennett, Kendall Lavon Busby; two brothers-in-laws, Henry Lee and Arthur Smart; one sister-in-law Willene Smart, Fairfax, SC; two special friends, Maurice Hamilton (Early Bird) and the late Reverend Kenneth Scott, Sr., (Preacher); host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

*** Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be no gathering or lingering. Only three individuals will be allowed in the chapel during the same time. Once you view the body, you must leave the building and the premise.  There will be an attendant available to record your name in the Register Book. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Williams, please visit our floral store.