News
3/4/2010 - Montgomery Community Leader, Lawyer Dies
Jesse Williams, a prominent Montgomery lawyer and community leader, died Tuesday. He was 70. Williams specialized in real estate and commercial law and established himself as an expert in the state on those subjects. He was an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and served with several civic organizations. Close friend Scooter Dyess said Williams always was involved in some kind of positive activity. "If it was anything good, and he had the time, he was into it," said Dyess, a former University of Alabama football star.
Williams served as president of the Capital City Kiwanis Club and the March of Dimes, founded WLBF Christian radio station and also worked with the Fellowship of Christian Atheletes and Common Ground Montgomery. Bill Joseph, former chairman of the Montgomery County Commission, said Williams was "one of the outstanding citizens of our community. I don't know of anyone in Montgomery who knew him and didn't like him," Joseph said.
John Albritton worked with Williams at the Rushton, Stakely, Johnston and Garrett law firm for 10 years. Williams began his career there in 1966 after graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law. "Jesse is the type of person that anyone would do well to emulate in their life. I have never known a finer person than Jesse Williams," he said. Williams often performed pro bono work for people who could not afford legal services. "He went out of his way to help anybody, regardless of their means," Albritton said.
Williams was an elder at Trinity and chairman of the Ministry of Shepherding/Pastoral Care. He had served in several other ministries at the church and was known for his frequent Bible studies. Williams served in the Army, and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., from 1964 to 1966, where he trained soldiers heading to the Vietnam War. Williams retired from the Army as captain.
He also was an avid outdoorsman, with a particular fondness for turkey hunting. "He was a guy who was very simple to sum up. He loved the Lord, number one. Family was two, work was three, and the fourth was either Alabama football or turkey hunting," Dyess said. He also was a great friend, said Billy McQueen, who knew Williams all his life. "He was the kind of guy you could count on in good times and bad," McQueen said.
Williams is survived by his wife, Patricia Hamm Williams, sons Jesse Williams IV and Kirby Williams and daughter Ginger Williams Jacks.
Montgomery Advertiser, Scott Johnson, March 3, 2010