Yesterday is a day, I may never forget. I was working and during a break looked at Facebook to discover that Brother Dick Williams had gone home to Heaven. First, about Brother Dick. As many of my long time readers know, my wife and I began attending First Baptist Church, Concord back in 1993 or 1994. When we began attending, I met Brother Dick Williams. I quickly learned he was a Saint. I am posting his obituary and it speaks volumes. Brother Dick was always positive and he always asked me about what I thought about politics and campaigns. I don’t think he ever gave me his opinion. But, he always wanted to know about me. Every male that has passed through Concord has had some impact from Brother Dick. As I posted on Facebook yesterday. He raised us all. My faults and failings are my own. He set the example.
Dick (Emmett Wesley) Williams, age 94, of Farragut went peacefully to be with the Lord on Friday morning, July 17, 2015 at Park West Medical Center after a short illness. Dick was a member of Creighton Memorial Baptist Church and a charter member of First Baptist Church Concord. During his 58 years of membership he served as a Sunday School teacher, member of the choir, deacon, on many committees, including the pastoral relations committee and was a beloved spiritual leader to many. Dick established the prayer ministry, which included a prayer meeting on Saturday nights for 30 years and assisted in establishing the prayer chapel for his church. He was a veteran of the U S Army serving during the construction of the Panama Canal. He retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory after 36 years of service. Dick was an avid wood worker and could build or fix anything. He loved growing tomatoes and giving them to his friends until the day he passed.
Dick married Mary Ruth Gray on February 20, 1944. He was preceded in death by his son, David Wesley Williams; parents, Emmett Hendrix Williams and Clara Snow Williams Allen; sister, Alma Williams Copeland; brothers, Hoyat and Billy Williams. Dick is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Ruth; daughter, Linda Williams Loy and her daughter, Kerry Loy; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Williams and her children, Lori (Denton) Williams Lesslie, Kip Williams; great grandchildren, Will and Hollie Lesslie; brother, Ray Williams; niece, Beverly Williams Stypula, Lisa (Jeff) Blackburn Ogle; nephews, Steve (Patsy) Williams and Ronnie Williams, Michael (Rachel) Gray, Ron (Barbara) Gray.
A celebration of life worship service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20th in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Concord with Dr. Joe Stacker, Dr. C. Glenn Sullivan, Dr. Doug Sager and Dr. John Avant officiating. Private graveside services will be held at Pleasant Forest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mission of Hope, missionofhope.org or to First Baptist Church Concord Prayer Ministry, 11704 Kingston Pike, Farragut, TN 37934. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Williams family.
Even as Brother Dick laid in a hospital bed with Mrs. Mary Ruth by his side he was surrounded by young men as he continued providing them instructions as he passed. I am thankful and joyful for him that he is kicking up gold dust on the streets of Heaven, but I will miss him until I see him again.
Later in the day, news came that another long time member of Concord passed, Mr. James Trezise. James son Chris and daughter in law Kimberly along with my wife and I were in Sunday School class years ago. Chris and I were in a small group discipleship class. I knew Mr. Trezise but didn’t have the personal connection with him that I did with Brother Dick.
Then Joe Newman, a good friend came by the house this morning, his dad Lester Newman passed during today’s early morning hours. His dad and my dad grew up next door to each other and Joe’s mom, Lester’s wife had passed back in January.
I ask that you keep all these families in your prayers as well as the 4 Marines and 1 Navy soldier lost their lives in Chattanooga this week.
