Billy Williams

Billy Williams, age 91 of Winnsboro, passed away on Saturday, December 21, 2013 in Winnsboro. He was born in the Black Oak Community in Hopkins County, to the late W. Guy and Dora Gibbons Williams. He was raised in Hopkins County and attended school in Reilly Springs. He was a member of the Baptist faith since 1940, he became a Mason on May 12, 1952, and was a member of Dade City #48 from 1954, at Dade City, FL., until his death. He also became a 32nd degree mason in the Scottish Rite and the Hella Shrine in 1961. On June 25, 1983 he was admitted to Ogilvie Chapter #115, RAM, Council #69, R&SM, Commandry #43, K.T. He was Past President of Wood County Scottish Rite Club, Past Worthy Patron of the Winnsboro Chapter # 967 Order of Eastern Star, and in 1986 he moved his Shrine affiliation from Hella, in Dallas, to Sharon Shrine in Tyler, for the benefit of being closer, and being able to participate. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1944 during World War II, and upon being discharged, he returned to trucking, where a total of 52 years was spent, primarily as an independent operator. In his masonic life he had placed untold numbers of children in Scottish Rite, and Shrine hospitals. In later years, after retirement, were spent searching for crippled and burned children, for admission to the hospitals. He helped find candidates for the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. He is survived by one daughter, Theresa Dedman of Mineral Wells, TX, and one grandson, Joshua Dedman of Mineral Wells; one son, Billy Don Williams of Athens; four granddaughters, ten great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Christine Bain.