"B. J." WILLIAMS

BOBBY JOE WILLIAMS, a resident of the Somerville Community, retired local High School Teacher and area historian died at 9:14 P.M. Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at the Methodist University Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for one day. He was 74 years of age and died following a brief, two-week illness.

Funeral services and interment for Mr. Williams were private and arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

A native of Humboldt, Tennessee, Mr. Williams was born August 29, 1934 the son of the late Clarence Williams and the late Addie Mae Kilzer Williams. He was educated in the Humboldt Public School system and continued his education at the University of Memphis where he received both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education with a Major in History.

He was married January 14, 1961 to the former Demetra Reeves of Caruthersville, Missouri, a Medical Laboratory Technician, who preceded him in death on December 10, 2004.

Mr. Williams was a former resident of Memphis before moving to the Somerville Community thirty years ago. He taught at the University of Memphis while completing his Master's Degree and was a Teacher at the Fayette Ware High School in Somerville for a number of years before his retirement ten years ago.

Mr. Williams was of the Christian faith and will be remembered as an avid walker frequently seen in the Somerville downtown area and Highway 64 during his daily exercise routine.

His favorite pastimes included family trips to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, genealogy, politics and history.
An accomplished writer, he was commissioned by the Corps Of Engineers to write a book on the History of the Mississippi River.

Survivors of Mr. Williams include his sister, Janie Morris (William) of Springville, TN; his nephew, David Morris of Fort Walton Beach, FL and his niece, Penny Rayburn of Memphis.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the Fayette County Chapter of the American Cancer Society.