James Dugger Williams

View Funeral WebcastJames Dugger Williams, Sr., 86, retired mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service and resident of 7th Avenue, died Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Northview Church of Christ with Jeff Durham, John Vaughan, and Wendell Robinson officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors at graveside provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Monday from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols.Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com.The Maury County native was the son of the late James Williams and Sarah Hicks Dugger Williams and a 1942 graduate of Columbia Central High School.He was inducted in the U. S. Army in 1943 and assigned to Headquarters Battery, 55th Field Artillery Battalion. After several months training, his unit was shipped to New Guinea prior to the invasion of Luzon in the Philippine Islands. The 55th Field Artillery Battalion moved from place to place in support of the I Corps, 6th Army, under General Douglas MacArthur, destroying Japanese artillery at every locale. After nine long months of battle, the 55th was disbanded, assigned to joined the 25th Infantry Division, and sailed to Nagoya for the occupation of Japan. He was discharged in January, 1946 with the World War II Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, AP Theatre Ribbon, two Bronze Service Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Bronze Star.After returning home from military service, he enrolled in David Lipscomb College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued his education at Peabody College, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1950 and for the next four years taught in the Commercial Department at Central High School. Mr. Williams then went to work for the U. S. Postal Service as a letter carrier, retiring in 1984 after 30 years.For many years, he was a member of the Riverside Church of Christ and had served as a deacon and elder. In 1992 he moved with the congregation to a new building, now known as the Northview Church of Christ.Mr. Williams served as the minister of several rural churches in Maury County, including Greenfield Bend Church of Christ, Water Valley Church of Christ, Philippi Church of Christ, New Lasea Church of Christ, Smyrna Church of Christ, and Southpoint Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Willa Frances Morrow Williams of Columbia; children, James Dugger "Doug" (Rita Evans) Williams, Jr. of Columbia, Donna Williams Richard) Porter of Charleston, South Carolina, and Cary Anne Williams Jeff) Durham of Summertown; grandchildren, Andrew Williams, Rebekah Williams (Andy) Parker, Robert (Brandy) Porter, Catheryne Porter, Anna Rebecca Durham, Jessica Frances Durham, and James Thomas Durham; great-grandchildren, Jackson Williams Parker, Andrew James Parker; sister, Betty Ann Williams Harris of Florence, Alabama; nieces, Susan Harris (Carl) Powell of Huntsville, Alabama and Sarah Harris (Earl) Debes of Huntsville, Alabama; nephew, James M. (Patsy) Harris of Florence, Alabama.Active pallbearers are James Durham, Andrew Williams, Robert Porter, Andy Parker, Henry Clay Dugger, James Harris, and Jimmy Pilkinton. Honorary pallbearers include Bobby Thurman, Randall Rummage, Joe Williams, Darrel Connelly, Bruce Romesburg, Clyde Rust, Ricky Glass,John Lovett, George Knox, Glen Kinnard, and Wayne B. Hardison.