Dave Williams

DAVE EARL WILLIAMS was born Sunday, May 10, 1953, in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was the eighth of twelve children and the third son born to Elder Sam Williams, Sr. and Mother Carrie (Wilson) Williams. He was educated in Benton Harbor Area Schools and attended Hull School. Dave was a member of the 1972 graduating class of Benton Harbor High School and proudly wore #45 for the Benton Harbor Tigers Basketball Team.

In search of better job opportunities, Dave moved his family from Benton Harbor, Michigan to Columbus, Ohio, in 1978. He remained in Columbus over twenty years and then relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, for warmer weather. After several years in Atlanta, he moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he enjoyed morning jogs and walks along the beach. He eventually returned to Atlanta and remained there until 2020. After his multiple myeloma diagnosis, Dave returned to Ohio to be closer to more family members that would support him with his cancer journey.

Mr. Williams was known for several things, more notably, his basketball skills, his sweet potato pies, and his green thumb. He enjoyed dancing and walking, to stay in shape. He LOVED sports! When he was able to attend, he took pleasure watching his grandson, Tayvon, on the football field. When PJ would come to visit, Dave was excited to sit with him and watch videos of PJ’s swim race replays. Weekday mornings were spent eagerly anticipating the commentary of Stephen A. Smith on his television program, First Take. Last but not least, Dave was known for his beautiful smile, which will be greatly missed.

Our beloved Dave E. Williams, age sixty-nine, departed this life early in the morning of Saturday, March 18, 2023, at home, with his daughters and brothers by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carrie and Elder Sam Williams, Sr.; paternal grandparents, Buck and Mary Frances Williams; maternal grandparents, Dave and Laura Wilson; siblings, Elvie Scott, Deborah Grim, and Mary Bullocks; nephew, Marcus Williams; and nieces, Peacelynn Williams, Ana Williams, Korrie Williams, and Koretta (Lynn) Allen.

He leaves to cherish his memory: four daughters, Pamela Ndossi of Newark, OH, Whitney (Philander) Martin of Kentwood, MI; Brittany Williams and Brandy (Mikey) Payne, both of Columbus, OH; one son, Thomas Crump of Columbus, OH; three grandsons, Philander Martin “PJ” III of Kentwood, MI, Tayvon Stewart of Columbus, OH, and Aman Martin of Kentwood, MI; seven granddaughters, Cache Miller, Camri Miller, and Calyn Miller, all of Newark, OH, Mykah Payne, Malikah Payne, Kaylee Crump, and Destiny Crump, all of Columbus, OH; three great grandsons, Daniel Pitts, III, Davion Pitts, and Jay’mier Miller of Newark, OH; one great granddaughter, Journey Miller of Newark, OH; six brothers, Sam (Evelyn) Williams, Alphonse (Pat) Williams, and Charles Williams, all of Columbus, OH, and Jerry Williams of Atlanta, GA, Louis (Nicole) Williams, and Michael Williams, both of Benton Harbor, MI; two sisters, Naomi (Norman) Jones and Ruth Wagoner, both of Columbus, OH; one special friend, Valora Flowers, of Atlanta, GA; the mothers of his children, Sedalia Williams of Grand Rapids, MI, and Terrie Williams of Columbus, OH, and a host of other family and dear friends.