Joseph Williams, Jr.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS, JR., the son of the late Joseph and Jannie Williams, was born on November 13, 1945 in Ridge Spring, South Carolina. After a lengthy illness, he departed this life on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 7:41 p.m. at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Joseph was educated in the Public School System of Ridge Spring and graduated from high school in 1963. he was the third child of a family of five children and during childhood, he acquired the nicknames of “Jr.” and Joe Jr.” by all his family and friends. Joe accepted Christ at an early age, was baptized, and became a member of Ridge Hill Baptist Church. After graduation, Joseph moved to Baltimore and began his career life. Throughout the years, his career choice included employment at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Bethlehem Steel, Continental Can and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company. Joe was an energetic and diligent young man who earned a trade degree from Lincoln Tech and also attended Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) with a focus in Data Processing. May 24, 1975, Joseph was united in matrimony to Burnette Caraway Williams. To this union, two children were born: one son, Jyrod and one daughter, Shaneka, who was his very, own “special gift” and “apple of his eye” because she was born on Father's Day. His children were two of the greatest treasures in his life. Although he did not birth them into this world, Uncle Jr. had a great love and a strong bond with all his nieces and nephews, with whom he spent a great deal of time. Later in life, on December 15, 2000, William (as she called him) married Yolanda Rogers Williams and together, they raised two sons, Trayvon and Marquis Rogers. Less we forget, Joseph had another great love in his life, his precious little dog, “Sebastian”. Now that was a “bond”, the two of them were really “inseparable”. Joe loved getting up early in the morning going to 7-11 for his “Big Gulp” and walking his dog, “Sebastian”. There were two or three things in life that Joe really, really enjoyed. For one, he loved taking his children, nieces and nephews to Loch Raven Dam and Robert E. Lee Park. He also enjoyed family cookout and other family outings. Plus, after retiring from BG&E, he loved working part-time at March Funeral Home and Kennedy Krieger Institute. As a servant of God, Joe was a member of “Southern Baptist Church” for many years. He later moved his membership to “Grace Baptist Church” where he served as a Deacon and Usher. With a mind to pursue an even greater walk with the Lord, Joe united with “River of life” under the pastor ship of Bishop Bennett Donnell and Apostle Jean Donnell. As a member of the branch of Zion, Joseph served on the Usher board and the Security Ministry faithfully until his health failed him. Although, he was absent from the service while residing in Brinton Woods Acute Care (Nursing Home), Joe enjoyed and eagerly awaited visits from the elders and members of the church to come and tell him about the “Goodness of the Lord” He was preceded in death by his father, mother and one sibling, Leonard Williams. Surviving to cherish his loving memories are his children, Jyrod Laron and Shaneka Shantel Williams, the mother of his children, Ms Burnette C. William; his former wife, Ms Yolanda R. Williams and two step-sons, Trayvon and Marquis Rogers; little Sebastian; two sisters, Ms Annie Green (Robert Wilkinson) and Mrs. Vera Neal (Eugene); one brother, Arthur (Al) Williams; all of Baltimore. There are six nieces; seven nephews; a host of great nieces and nephews, relatives and friends. Last but not least, he leaves to cherish his memories the staff and friends at Brinton Woods Post Acute Care Center, who affectionately cared for him and called him “Pops”

Tributes

Joseph Williams, Jr.

November 13, 1945 - December 8, 2016