DATE: Wednesday, July 23, 1997              TAG: 9707230415

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: PALMYRA                           LENGTH:   44 lines

JOSEPH T. WILLIAMS

Joseph Taylor ``Joe'' Williams, 68, of the 300 block of W. Jefferson Drive, died July 19, 1997, in his home.

A native of Seaboard, N.C., he was a United Methodist minister of the Virginia Methodist Conference with 38 years of service before retiring three years ago. He was a ministorial member of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, was a Methodist minister of Christ United Methodist Church, Newport News, Jolliff United Methodist Church, Chesapeake, Trinity United Methodist Church, Cape Charles, Aldersgate United Methodist Church of Norfolk, Warrenton United Methodist Church, Warrenton, Graham Road United Methodist Church, Falls Church, Lincolnia United Methodist Church, Alexandria, Granbery United Methodist Church, Covington, Clarendon United Methodist Church, Arlington, and Mineral United Methodist Church, Mineral.

He was a Mason in Norview Lodge (NU)113, member of Virginia Chapter of the Eastern Star and the Scottish Rite, previous chaplain of Cosmopolitan Club, previously active in Ruritans, Kiwanis and Boy Scouts. The Rev. Williams was honored to offer the opening prayer for the session of the House of Delegates for the Virginia General Assembly on Feb. 8, 1989.

He was the son of the late Joseph Zachary and Bessie Allen Williams. He graduated from Granby High School, Norfolk, received a B.A. from Emory and Henry College, Emory, Va., and attended seminary at Duke University, Durham, N.C.

He is survived by his wife, Anne Duff Williams; daughters, Joanne Williams Latimer of Virginia Beach, Laurie Marie Saunders of Hamilton; sons, James Marion Williams of Virginia Beach, Richard Thomas Williams of Reston, Va.; sisters, Marguerite Owen and Armeda Atkins, both of Norfolk; grandchildren, Matthew and Anne Latimer of Virginia Beach, Benjamin and Rachel Williams, Michael Ice; Adam, Catherine and Jennifer Dierks of Virginia Beach, Taylor Joseph Saunders of Hamilton, Va.; son-in-law, James B. Latimer of Virginia Beach; daughter-in-law, Paula M. Williams; son-in-law, Todd R. Saunders of Hamilton.

A Celebration of Life and Resurrection Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday by Dr. Robert L. Parsons, Dr. Robert J. Stamps, the Rev. George Freeman and the Rev. Elizabeth Wright Taylor, in Clarendon United Methodist Church, Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of the Piedmont, 1290 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, Va. 22901. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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