Father, Husband, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Counselor, Advisor, and Friend.

Mr. Willie Williams, Jr was born on March 2, 1948 in Fairfield, Alabama to the late Willie Williams, Sr. and Essie D. Gardner Williams. Depending on your life's journey, you may have affectionately known him as "Weed" or "Mr. Willie", or "Mr. Williams".

Growing up on 55th Street in Fairfield, Mr. Willie was the eldest of five siblings: Gloria "Jean" Williams (Jackson), Norman "Popcorn" Williams, Kathy "Fox" Williams (deceased), and Thomas "Sweet" Williams (deceased). At the young age of 13, Mr. Willie confessed Christ and was baptized at Zion Traveler's Primitive Baptist Church under the leadership of Revered R.B. Davis. He attended Robinson Elementary and from there attended and graduated from Fairfield Industrial High School. It was there that he fell in love with the trumpet and played in the high school band. After high school, Mr. Willie attended Miles College and soon after enlisted in the United States Army having spent most of his service in Germany.

But before Germany while spending time with friends on what is now known as Willie Mays Park, Mr. Willie saw the young girl who would often visit his Aunt Carrie Mae. He teed up her little brother Carl to send a message to her and the rest was the history of his 30+ years marriage to the beautiful, smart, and loving Mrs. Angela Genice Givins Williams. To their union a legacy of two daughters were born: the oldest Angela Denice Williams affectionately nicknamed by her dad as "Bandit" and Alaina Xavier Williams, the youngest affectionately nicknamed as Lady Bird. Between their two daughters Mr. Willie and Angela G. have been blessed to have a lasting legacy of five wonderful grandchildren to whom Mr. Willie lovingly nicknamed: Angela D's two sons Xavier Givhan "X-Man" Williams and William Husani "Will Money" Nall; and Alaina's three children with her son Rodriques Alegin "Pit Bull" Edmonds being the oldest and her twin daughters Alexandria "Alex" Givhan Williams and Deondria Denice "Dede" Williams.

A life's story filled with faith and overcoming, Mr. Willie was committed to a work of service in the addiction, treatment and recovery culture.  From providing a safe and anonymous space for recovery counseling in the den of his family's home to resident support at Aletheia House to traveling to prison institutions to meet with state coordinators and officials, his work was rooted in a divine mastering in the delivery and interpretation of "12-steps".  In the late 90's, he worked as a primary counselor with adolescents at the Hill Crest Hospital Group Homes.  He provided individual and group therapy to teenagers who were in DHR custody.  This afforded him the opportunity to share his life experiences in an effort to educate and give the teens hope for the future.  This passion also led to the collaboration with one Art Becker that inspired the foundations of the adult outpatient program at Hill Crest. Later, Mr. Willie continued providing services through his commitment to the Neighborhood House.  During the early to mid 2000's, The Neighborhood House provided housing, social services, supportive counseling and education groups to previously incarcerated persons who were transitioning from the State prison system.  In partnership with the owners, he continued to share and use his life experiences to provide support and guidance to individuals who were returning from corrections to the community.  Mr. Willie's long term passion for recovery and assisting others with similar challenges was commendable.  This was shown through his ongoing commitment to receiving continuing education and professional development at community trainings and conferences. His gift of "meeting people where they are" resulted in a genuine human connectedness that continues to impact those he counseled and mentored even today.

Tuesday January 28, 2014 is remembered for many as "Snowpocalypse" as the City of Birmingham fell under what is arguably one of the worst winter storms in its history. This would also be the last day that Mr. Willie would drive himself in a car or walk up a flight of stairs as he experienced a rare spinal cord injury that paralyzed his lower extremities. Even still, faced with a new reality and seemingly insurmountable physical challenges he persevered; often being touted as the star patient in spinal cord clinic therapy and going so far as to complete a certification course on driving with a disability.

As it is with all of us, over time the natural progression of age and its often inevitable heath challenges, the decision was made summer 2020 to move Mr. Willie a care facility. Oak Trace (formerly Oak Crest) was his home and extended family until his passing. While there, he would often "DJ" or provide music for residents activities, speak at Black History programs, and was asked more than once by administrators to consider being a resident Representative. Staff and residents alike loved him and often came to him to discuss both job-related and life-related personal matters and decisions. Resident's families regularly befriended him and he encouraged so many of the staff and their extended families. Operating in his calling and purpose as a counselor and advisor just as he once did as a healthy walking man, Mr. Willie earned the respect and admiration of many at the care facility.

"Jr"….Weed"…."Fat Daddy"…."Uncle Weed"…."Mr. Willie"…."Mr. Williams"…."Grandad"….

"Daddy".

Your life, your love, and your legacy will be remembered and honored by those already mentioned as well as a grand host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends including his last surviving aunt Mrs. Precilla Gardner Shuler.

"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.."

Well done, Willie Weed. Well done.