Deacon James Edward Williams of Waverly, VA, was called home to the Lord on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at his residence. He was born September 9, 1930 in Sussex County, Virginia to the late Deacon Robert Lee Belsches and Amanda Eggleston.

Edward was educated in the Plank Road School and Sussex County Training School. On April 13, 1953, James Edward Williams married the love of his life Cora Elizabeth Williams (64 years).

Deacon James Edward Williams was a member of Plank Road Baptist Church in good standing. He served in a variety of capacities as Deacon (50 years), custodian, usher, lawn keeper, building maintenance, treasurer and other duties as lead by the Lord.
He also served as host for food and always an open house for pastors and ministers, and others who wanted to stop by to eat or sleep. He was a honorary member of the Drivers Hunt Club, a member of Saint James Lodge No. 128 for 57 years.

He worked at International Paper for 32 plus years. He was a farmer, construction worker and woodsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening. Mr. Williams also worked as member of the Staff at Peace Funeral Home.

Deacon James Edward was preceded in death by his daughter Gwendolyn Williams Hall on April 12, 2017, (son-in-law, Freddie Lee Hall).

Left to cherish is memory, his devoted wife of 64 years, Cora Elizabeth Williams; 4 children, Dorothy Williams, Corliss Davis (Pastor Alexander Davis) and, Derek Williams all of Waverly, VA, and Omar Williams (Tremoyne) of Dinwiddie, VA; grandchildren, SFC James E. Hall (Raquel), Roderick Davis, PFC Grant Williams, Destiny Williams, Alexis Giles, Cortrell Davis, Byanica Giles, Khavari Rawlings, Jecenia Carpenter, and Demonia Stith; great grandchildren, Jamie Hall and Julius Hall; one sister-in-law, Annie W. Jones of Petersburg, VA; two brother-in-laws, Rufus Williams Jr. of Greensville, SC and Melvin "Ray" Williams of Newark, NJ; one son-in-law, Freddie Lee Hall of Surry, VA. A host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Also the dependable neighbors of the Jerusalem Plank Road (Hwy 35) Community.

Funeral Service for Mr. Williams will be 1:00pm, Monday, September 25, 2017 at Wilborne Baptist Church, 7138 Newville Road, Waverly, VA, Rev. Clarence Thweatt, Pastor and Dr. George Urquhart, Eulogizing. Interment will follow at the Plank Road Baptist Church Cemetery.