Jerry E. Williams

This is the life story of a man with a variety of talents and interests.

Born to Joseph and Martha Williams, Jerry Eugene Williams was born on July 8, 1949 in Marietta, Georgia. During his upbringing, Jerry and his 7 siblings were raised as members of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. From a very early age, Jerry has an affinity for sports especially basketball and football. As some of his peers and family may jokingly agree, Jerry was probably in a football stance the very day he was born; he was that skilled. He displayed his talents at Lemon Street High School in Marietta, Georgia. It was here, as he sported the number 82 on his jersey, Jerry earned his nickname as he played the position of tight end. It was his height, stout physique, and his extraordinary speed, his ability to juke, bob and weave, and block that earned him the name "Catfish" among his teammates. It would stick with him for the rest of his life. Jerry continued to display his unique athleticism beyond his graduation from high school in 1967.

It is worthy to note here that Jerry was a man of responsibility. Instead of following some of his classmates into a life of crime, drug use, and alcohol, Jerry enlisted in the United States Air Force on March 5, 1968. His military occupation (MO) was postage handler.

During his tenure as an airman, Jerry acquired an interest in photography. His artwork included a collection of photographs of his Army and Air Force comrades and of the bases where he served his Tours of Duty (TOD) in Vietnam, Korea and at Lowry Air Force Base.

Most notably, during his tenure as an Airman, and two personal friends named Diana Curtis and Earl Jones, Jerry met the woman of his dreams, Myra Falls. Upon their initial meeting, Jerry had promised to marry Myra on the same day that they met. As promised, Jerry and Myra were married on July 12, 1969 by the late Reverend Fritz Russell in Denver, Colorado. From this union, the Williams family grew beginning with the birth of Errexson Lavelle Williams, Corey Lavelle Williams, and Tamesha Kawan Williams, and 2 granddaughters, Cariana and Samarra Williams.

With a concluding rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt), Jerry retired from the Air Force in March 1988. Since then he worked at Russell and Stovers, Denver Post Office, Intertech Plastics, and the Bowling Alley at Lowry AFB.

Later in life, Jerry encountered a new rival team (Diabetes) that he had to juke, bob, and weave through once again, but the difference this time is for survival on the playing field of life. Ultimately, that rival team Jerry competed against would eventually be the one to end the game for this Airman, soldier and athlete. Our Lord and Savior called Jerry to his home to rest on March 14, 2024.

Jerry Eugene "Catfish" Williams will always be remembered and cherished as not just an athlete or soldier, but also a hard worker and provider for his family. He spent his life dedicated to serve the Lord.

Jerry was preceded in death by his mother, Martha Williams; his father, Joseph Williams; two brothers, Walter and Henry Williams; two sisters, Josephine Webb and Willie Jean Clemons; one nephew, Walter Williams, Jr.; and two nieces, Evette and Marlo Williams.

He is survived by his wife, Myra Williams; their four children, Errexson Lavelle Williams, Corey Lavelle Williams, and Tamesha Kawan Williams; two granddaughters, Cariana Williams and Samarra Williams; two sisters, Martha McKinney and Joanne Williams; one brother, Wallace Williams; two aunts, Francis Reece and Fannie Scales; mother-in-law, Reverend Josephine Falls; two sisters-in-law, Gloria Falls and Rose Falls; and a host of nieces and nephews.