Frank Williams

View Video Tribute James Frank Williams, 80, retired Columbia businessman and resident of Rand's Way, died Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Melinda Britt and Rev. Scott Aleridge officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols and Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Church Atrium. The family suggests memorials to Maury County Animal Shelter, 1233 Mapleash Avenue, Columbia TN 38401; First United Methodist Church, 222 West 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401; or Columbia State Foundation, CSCC Advancement Office, 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401. Notes of condolence may be extended at oakesandnichols.com. Born in the Summertown Community, he moved to Nashville and spent his early life there with his parents, the late R. V. Williams and James Mildred Thrower Williams. He graduated from Bellvue High School and later Vanderbilt University in 1960 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He also served almost four years in the U. S. Navy as an air traffic controller stationed in Key West, Florida and Millington Navy Air Station in Millington, Tennessee. In 1960, he began work with Union Carbide Corporation. After a short time, he and his father established Columbia Construction Company which he operated until his retirement in 1991. A sports enthusiast all his life, Mr. Williams especially enjoyed baseball, loved playing golf, and as a young man, enjoyed duck and rabbit hunting. He was a former Board member of the Columbia State Foundation, United Givers' Fund, Columbia Elks Lodge 686, and coached Little League baseball for several years. Currently, he was a member of First United Methodist Church, Graymere Country Club, and Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. Survivors include his wife, Betsy R. Campbell Williams; daughters, Kim (Gary) Willis and Kara (Kerry) Huckaby; sons, Douglas B. (Shirley) Williams and Daniel (Missy) Williams; step-daughter, Melanie (Denon) White; step-son, Greg Morris, all of Columbia; grandchildren, Corbin (Justin) Whitwell of Columbia, Kaelin (Bobby Lee) Hanks of Munford, Seth Willis of Murfreesboro, Jack Huckaby, Linton Huckaby, Brandon Harmon, all of Columbia, Ross Harmon of Hendersonville, Ben White and Lindsey Morris of Columbia; great-grandchild, Gavin Whitwell of Columbia; sister-in-law, Jane Campbell Alexander of Columbia. He was preceded in death by a half-sister, Loretta Ridoff. Active pallbearers are Bobby Lee Hanks, Justin Whitwell, Seth Willis, Jack Huckaby, Brandon Harmon, Ben White, and Ross Harmon. Honorary pallbearers include Waymon Hickman, Raymond Hamilton, Herman Overcash, and Liz and Jack Page.