Commander USN (Retired)

Commander Willis Terrell Williams, USN (Retired) died April 15, 2018. He was born to Kaufman and Kate (Mathews) Williams on May 30, 1925 in San Augustine County Texas. He attended a one room, one teacher schoolhouse through the eighth grade. He graduated from San Augustine High School on May 1, 1942 at age 16. At age 17 he joined the US Navy as an apprentice seaman. He advanced through all the enlisted rankings and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer at 26. In 1951 he met and fell in love with Dorla Dean Bragg of Milan, TX. There were married on May 20, 1951, a marriage that would last 66 years and 8 months, until her death on February 9, 2018. In the mid 1950’s he was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy. He then advanced through the various officer grades to the rank of Commander, a rank he retired at in 1973, after serving more than 30 years. He served during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Following his Navy retirement and after earning a masters degree, he was offered a senior administrative position at the University of Memphis (then Memphis State University). He served in this and similar positions for approximately 20 years. He retired in the early 1990’s. Commander Williams was a Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association and the American Legion. He could also fly an airplane. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and he believed strongly in the preservation of wildlife. He was a life member of the Memphis Sport Shooting Association and a benefactor life member of the National Rifle Association. After the death of his beloved Dorla, he decided to give away his extensive collection of fine rifles, shotguns, and pistols. He gave these guns to family members, relatives and friends. HE did this in the hope that his interest and views on hunting, wildlife preservation, and home defense would continue well into the future. He is survived by his daughters, Carole Moscato of South Plymouth, NY and Linda Kay Abernathy (Rick, deceased) of Memphis, TN; his son, Robert Craig Williams (Valerie) of Nashville, TN; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Visitation will be held from 5pm – 7pm Friday (April 20) at the Munford Funeral Home Millington Chapel with a funeral service at 2:00pm on Saturday (Apr 21) at First United Methodist Church, Millington, TN). Burial with full military honors will follow in Northridge Woodhaven Cemetery in Millington, Tennessee. The family asks memorials be made to First United Methodist Church. Munford Funeral HomeMillington Chapel7450 Raleigh Millington RdMillington, TN 38053(901) 873-0123mail@sanaugustinetribune.comRead Obituary