Thomas Richard Williams, Ii

Walk-Through Visitation honoring Thomas Richard Williams II, better known as retired and decorated Columbus Police Officer Tommy Williams, will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am and with Private Service from 10am -11am at Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Home located at 720 East Long Street in Columbus. Due to COVID-19 and safety precautions, the Homecoming Celebration of Tommy’s extraordinary life will take place following service at Blacklick Woods Metro Park, 6975 East Livingston Avenue, Reynoldsburg, from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Thomas (Tommy) Richard Williams II, was born to the late Thomas Richard Williams Sr. and the late Ida Louise Williams of Morgantown, West Virginia on March 13, 1942. Tommy returned home to be with the Lord, Our Father, on June 3, 2020. The grandson of a West Virginia coal miner and the son of a Pullman Porter, Tommy, whose childhood nickname was “Baby Boy”, was raised in Columbus, Ohio in a small house with his multi-generational family on Gilbert Avenue. In his youth, Tommy enjoyed hunting for wild rabbits with his grandfather and fishing with his father. He was an active member of the Silesian Boys and Girls Club of Columbus, Ohio in which he thoroughly enjoyed. Tommy attended St. Peter’s Catholic School where he was an altar boy for the church. He briefly attended Linden-McKinley High School for a year where he played basketball. He later moved to Chicago to live with his father, where he completed high school at DuSable High School before attending Teacher’s College (now Columbia College) in Chicago. Shortly thereafter, Tommy married and had his first son, Thomas III. With a young family, Tommy found employment with the Chicago Transit Authority due to his excellent vehicle skills, driving dump trucks as a minor for his stepfather’s company (Bridges Sod and Lawncare Services). After returning to Columbus, Tommy was briefly employed with the Central Ohio Transit Authority as a bus driver. Tommy was drafted by the U.S. military and was preparing to report to basic training for duty in Vietnam. However, he had a wife and son which exempted him from serving his country. After he received his military deferment, he was photographed by the Columbus Dispatch arriving back home. Soon thereafter he applied with the Columbus Police Department and was accepted into the Columbus Police Academy. This was a major turning point in Tommy’s life. Tommy successfully completed the rigorous academy work and became a Columbus Police Officer on October 31, 1966. His dedicated service and loyalty to the Columbus community lasted over 33 years. While being assigned to various positions within the department, he received several commendations for his dedicated work. While most positions were dangerous, Tommy excelled in each assignment, which included: D Platoon, Public Affairs, 12th Precinct Patrol Division, Vice Squad, Recruiting, 16th Patrol Division, and his last assignment was with the Traffic Bureau Motorcycle Squad. In this position, he escorted dignitaries visiting the city; including elected candidates and celebrities to their destinations. He was especially pleased with the conversation and photograph opportunity taken with Vice President Al Gore. Tommy also worked on several special duty assignments including the television Program “The People’s Court”. He was on security duty when he met the Temptations, the Jackson Five and Howard Hewett to name a few. Tommy would also drive musicians to the Ohio Correctional Institutions to perform for prisoners. He loved music and was thrilled to hear local and national artists. Tommy’s greatest accomplishment with the Columbus Police Department was helping to establish the Police Athletic League of Columbus (PAL) in 1970 with fellow officer, Jack Banks. PAL, still in operation, works to improve the lives of inner-city youth by providing positive direction, while fostering good relationships between Columbus police officers and children through sports in the community. Although Tommy was immensely proud being a Columbus Police Officer, his greatest love was his family, which he deeply cherished. As a youth, Tommy adored visiting his Aunt Betty, a jazz singer in New York City who made several albums with well-known artists like Erroll Garner and Lena Horne. In later years, he, his daughter Sylvana and wife Tonya would drive their recreational vehicle (RV) to Ohio State Parks, Kings Island and to various family outings. He loved parking the large RV right in front of the house or in the driveway while playing chess with Phillip and Sylvana. He would lovingly joke, “Take the pot off the stove, this chicken has been plucked!” While relaxing at home with his family, Tommy enjoyed watching television programs about military history and the Wildness: Alaska show. The Last Frontier was one of his favorite shows. Those that knew Tommy understood his wicked humor and that he enjoyed making people laugh. He was delighted when he received a chuckle and comments about his candid and often colorful remarks. Two standard phrases were, “Why are you shaking?" and “If something happens to you..." Ironically, his close friends and family could complete his remarks. Tommy relished in sharing experiences about his police partners and the jokes that they played on one another. He could cleverly recount each event with detail and exhibited pure exuberance telling his captivating stories. He would rejoice when his health allowed him to go out to attend events and to visit family. On his final birthday outing surrounded by family at dinner, he said the celebration was one of the best. Although he was unable to fulfill his dreams of vacationing in Alaska and writing a book about being a Columbus Police Officer, he is no longer in pain. During his convalescence at home, Tommy received Holy Communion from St. Paul the Apostle Church and believed in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. During his time with us, Tommy identified with Christians who were comedians, too and found humor in life. This sense of humor set the foundation for Tommy’s life so he could be the best police officer, husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend that he could. He too, made errors as we all fall short of the glory of God. Tommy is at peace now and he no longer anguishes over past mistakes, worrying about his failing health, frustrated by restrictive family gatherings, fearing COVID-19, and witnessing injustices in this world. There is now a bridge over troubled water and Tommy has walked over the bridge and has returned home, resting peacefully with Our Father, the Lord. Tommy is preceded in death by his mother, Ida Louise Bridges; his father, Thomas Richard Williams Sr; his grandmother, Rosita Barnett; his grandfather, Irvin Barnett; his aunts Helen Joyce Waddell, Betty Waddell (Aka Bette St. Claire) and Gloria Pritchet; his mother-in-law, Sara Watkins and his stepfather Harold Bridges. Tommy is survived by his wife, Tonya Williams; sons, Thomas Richard (Michele) Williams III and Phillip Michael (Karen) Williams; daughter, Sylvana Williams, stepson; James Anthony; sister, Patricia Keaton; brothers Ronald Williams and Michael (Carla) Williams; grandchildren Allory (Karol) Williams, Kellen Thomas Williams, Ellis Williams, Ryllan Williams, Ciera Williams, Milayna Williams; step granddaughter, Jaliyah Noel; step grandson, Chris Chestnut; cousins Gregory (Cathy) Waddell, Debby Waddell, and Johnny “Buddy” Pritchet; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as very many friends associated with the Columbus Police Department. Special mentions to Retired Columbus Police Sergeant Charles McFadden; close friend Charles Colbert, and the Little family. The family of Tommy R. Williams would like to thank everyone who shared a note, email, or text of sympathy, a photograph that sparked a memory, a phone call or visit that demonstrated care, food to nourish the body, gifts to cherish, and/or prayers that will sustain us through our grief. We appreciate the comfort, kindness, and love! Amen, Amen I say to you, whoever’s heard my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, Amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice. (KJV, John 5 verses 24-28.)