Matthew Franklin Williams

View Video Tribute View Funeral Webcast Matthew Franklin Williams, 21, student at Columbia State Community College and resident of Hermitage Circle, died Sunday, March 3, 2013 in Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Anderson Field House on the Columbia Academy campus with Dr. Laray Rector, Coach Mike Mizer, Coach Marty DeJarnette, Coach John Kodatt and John Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Columbia Academy Athletic Department, 1101 West 7th St., Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Matthew was born in Knoxville and reared in Columbia, the son of Gary Ferguson Williams and Karen Andrews Williams. He was a 2010 graduate of Columbia Academy where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and 11th in his class. He was very active in all sports particularly football, basketball and baseball. During his basketball career he was Columbia Academy's Most Valuable Player four years in a row, in 2008 made District 11-A All Season, in 2009 he was the District 11-A Most Valuable Player and All Region 6-A, in 2010 made Region 6-A Tournament Team and District 11-A All Season Player of the Year. He scored over 1000 points and currently holds the record for most 3 point shots scored. In baseball he was Columbia Academy's 2008 Most Valuable Player, in 2008 and 2009 he made All District in District 11-A and also played for American Legion Post 19 baseball in 2008 and 2009. In football he was the 2007 Most Valuable Offensive Player for Columbia Academy, in 2008 he was Region 6-1A Honorable Mention and was First Team All Conference Region 6-1A Duck River Valley Conference in 2007. His Senior Year he was voted Most Athletic Boy by his classmates. Matthew was currently attending Columbia State Community College and was employed by WireMasters, Inc. Survivors include his parents, Gary Ferguson Williams and Karen Andrews Williams of Columbia; brothers, Lee Williams of Columbia, Jake Williams of Santa Fe; sister, Gina Calvert of Mt. Pleasant; maternal grandmother, Sandra (Joe Hensley) Chesney of Clinton; maternal grandfather, Jack (Melanie) Andrews of Knoxville; uncle, Jimmy (Melinda) Andrews of Knoxville; aunts, Nancy Ytzen of Memphis, Linda (Billy) Adkins of Lewisburg, Barbara (Roy) Biddy of Columbia; Sandra Greenlee of Only; and great aunt, Janice Frost of Clinton. Active pallbearers include Taylor Dale, Oliver Gibbs, Bailey Boshers, Austin Beatty, Wes Lyons, Taylor Church, Chad Keith and Heath Fitzgerald. Honorary pallbearers will be the Columbia Academy Class of 2010, all his coaches, and his co-workers at WireMasters, Inc.