Palestine High School Alumni Association

Born 10 – 06 – 1921  –  03 – 07 – 1999

Services for Jack Williams, 77, of Tennessee Colony, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist church in Palestine with Dr. Richard Waters officiating.  Burial will follow at Tennessee Colony Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites.  Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey & Foster, Palestine.

Mr. Williams died Sunday at his residence.  He was born October 6, 1921, in Tennessee Colony, to J.R.G. Williams and Zylpha Augusta Wylie Williams.  Mr. Williams was a 1939 graduate of Palestine High School and a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy.  He was a rancher and had served as a mail carrier for 39 years.  He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he served as deacon and Sunday school teacher.  Mr. Williams was a 53-year member of Tyre Masonic Lodge No. 198 and OES Chapter No. 102.  He was past president and 35-year member of Anderson County Farm Bureau.  He received the Pioneer Award from the Texas Farm Bureau.  He was a director of the Tennessee Colony Cemetery Association and was a licensed private pilot.

He is survived by his wife, Jessie Williams of Tennessee Colony, daughters, Mary Richert of Texarkana and Carole Luevano of Tennessee Colony; sons, Lee Williams and Jack Williams Jr., both of Tennessee Colony; brother, O.L. Williams of Tennessee Colony; 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Carlton Allen, Chad Wiliams, Steven Williams, Paul Richert, Josh Richert and Mark David Woodruff.

Honorary pallbears will be Jeremy Thomas, Collin Williams, John David Williams, Joe Grumbles, Tommy Marr and Sonny Guess.

Condolence calls will be received from 6 – 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Tennessee Colony Cemetery Association.

Texas House of Representives Resolution #1283

WHEREAS, The recent passing of Jack Williams, a lifelong resident of Tennessee Colony, on March 7, 1999, at the age of 77, has brought a great loss to the family and many friends of this esteemed Texan; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was born on a farm in Tennessee Colony on October 6, 1921, and his years there would shape the rest of his life with the values of patriotism, family, faith, and farming; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Palestine High School in 1939, Mr. Williams married his childhood sweetheart, Jessie; their union was blessed with four children, and the pair celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary last Christmas; and

WHEREAS, This enterprising gentleman was a rancher and, for 39 years, a rural mail carrier, and he became a tireless voice for the farmers and ranchers of his community; and

WHEREAS, He served on the executive committee and was president of the Anderson County Farm Bureau for 35 years; he was a delegate to 41 annual State Farm Bureau conventions and led the Anderson County Cattle Raisers Association; and he was honored with the Pioneer Award from the Texas Farm Bureau for his invaluable, longtime service; and

WHEREAS, Faith too played a vital part in his life, and Mr. Williams was on the board of trustees of the Tennessee Colony Union Church and was a deacon and Sunday school teacher with the First Baptist Church of Palestine; he was a past master and 56-year member of Tyre Lodge No. 198, A.F.&A.M., a member of O.E.S. Chapter No. 102, and a past district deputy grand master of the 117th Masonic District; and

WHEREAS, He was active in community government both as a member of the Tennessee Colony School Board and as president of the Tennessee Colony Improvement Association; the energy and direction of this extraordinary man will be deeply missed, but surely his spirit lives on through the remarkable work he accomplished and in the sterling example he set for others, and it is indeed appropriate to honor his memory at this time; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jack Williams and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his beloved wife, Jessie Williams; to his daughters, Mary Richert and Carole Luevano; to his sons, Lee Williams and Jack Williams, Jr.; to his brother, O. L. Williams; and to his 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jack Williams.

Source: Texas House of Representives 05-28-1999