Jessie J. Williams, Jr. was born on August 5, 1940 in Glennville to the late Deacon Jesse L. Williams, Sr. and Ruth K. Williams. God called him to his eternal home on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from Savannah, GA. Jessie was preceded in death by his son, Jesse J. Williams III, brother, Julius Williams and sisters, Gwendolyn Williams, Ora Lee Woods, Evine Williams and Dorothy L Williams.
Jessie leaves his wife of 57 years, Charlotte Williams of Savannah, GA; three brothers, Nate Williams of Road Rockingham, VA, Johnnie Williams of Greeleyville, SC, Joseph Williams of Summerton, SC; two sisters, Wilhelmena Nelson of Blythewood, SC and Margaret Williams of Blythewood, SC; four sisters in-law, Patricia Barbour of Washington, PA, Carole Harris of Warrenton, VA, Donna (George) Reese of Annandale, VA and June (Playthel) Benjamin of New York, NY; two brothers-in-law, James (Bonnie) Watson of Wrightstown, NJ and Kenneth (Beth) Watson of Harleysville, PA, his daughter Vashawn Williams, his daughter-in-law Shawn Ziemba of Jacksonville, FL, many nieces and nephews, and his very special friends Kim Bimestefer and Sara Wahls of Parker, CO.
Reflections
Jessie J. Williams, Jr. graduated from Williamsburg county training school in Greeleyville, SC and then earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemistry from South Carolina State College, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing and Finance from UCLA and a Master of Science (MS) in Physical Chemistry from Syracuse University.
After graduating from SC State College, Jessie accepted a coveted R&D Chemical Engineering position at IBM where he quickly excelled into management. Given his passion for entrepreneurial leadership, he left IBM and founded JWM Corporation, a high-tech company that designed and manufactured telecommunications, simulators, and data processing equipment for IBM and others. Jessie grew JWM into a $50+ million enterprise operating out of Philadelphia. After selling JWM Corp., he founded JJ & Associates, ltd., an e-commerce software automation business. He then turned his attention to healthcare, founding HealthCare Principals Groups, which ultimately became Orvilla Healthcare – an organization providing home care and personal care to older adults and people with disabilities in the greater Savannah area. He ran that organization for 20 years, until his passing.
In addition to his President & CEO roles, Jessie earned highly respected and influential positions, including the Board Chair of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and President of the National Manufacturers Association. He leveraged all these roles to help others and influence policy, always working to help others rise and to make the world a better place for all of us. He was both a grass roots leader and organizer as part of the Civil Rights Movement, and the voice for others in his testimony before Congress. To seasoned executives, young professionals, family members, pastors, and politicians alike, Jessie was a trusted advisor and mentor, always making time to provide advice and counsel, to respond to an outreach, and help others be their best selves.
Jessie was a loving husband and father. He and Charlotte were married for 57 years. Together, they set the example for others to follow - two equals, both very successful in their own careers, supporting each other through good times and bad, respecting each other’s perspectives, seeking each other’s counsel on all matters, raising a family, balancing family, career and community engagement, and keeping God in first place every day and in every way. Jessie was unique in that he was clearly a “powerful and capable man’s man” – in business, on the golf course, as an athlete, in the community, and as a business leader - but still sensitive, loving and gentle with Charlotte. He prepared the meals for Charlotte every day, drove her to and from work when it snowed just to make sure she was safe, held her hand when they walked, helped her with her coat like a gentleman does, and cared for her through health concerns. Jessie and Charlotte chartered their own course and made a fulfilling life together – as world travelers, overcoming health concerns, creating beautiful homes together, and surrounding themselves with loving, supportive friends and family.
Throughout all the chapters of his life, Jessie was active in the Christian church - a deacon, a board member, an engaged servant of God and a reliable, trusted, support and guide for his church’s pastors, helping them grow the church’s membership and ensure the church’s financial sustainability. He studied the bible, was faithful and prayerful to his very core – praying for you and with you. He carried others, and God carried him. Even the Mayo Clinic said they couldn’t explain why he kept overcoming their terminal cancer diagnosis – not just year after year, but decade after decade. For 23 years, Jessie beat cancer, through Charlotte’s skillful navigating to get her husband the best care possible and with His God standing firmly by his side. His world renown doctors agreed, “We can’t explain it, except to say that someone upstairs wants you here.” Charlotte explained it more clearly, “God isn’t done with you yet, Jessie.” And that was the truth.
Jessie’s best friend was his son, J.J., which is yet another illustration of his character and priorities. Words are inadequate to describe the impact that J.J.’s 2022 death had on Jessie and Charlotte. But we know that Jessie is now in God’s house, and that J.J. and all who have gone before him, were there to joyously welcome Jessie when he passed from this earth on June 22, 2024.
Each of us is here to mourn in our own way, reflecting on the impact that Jessie J. Williams, Jr. had on us. We carry him with us today and always, employing what he taught us through his words, through his actions, through the example he set, and the difference he made. Each one of us is a better person because Jessie was a part of our lives. And we thank our Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Our Almighty God for that blessing.
A visitation will be from 5:00p.m. until 7:00p.m. Friday, June 28th at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Hodgson Chapel. The Williams family will also receive friends at the Calvary Baptist Temple, Saturday, June 29th, at 10:00 followed by funeral at 11:00, with Pastor Kenny Grant officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwich Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in memory of Jessie J. Williams, Jr. to Calvary Baptist Temple:
Posted online on June 27, 2024
Published in Savannah Morning News
