Thomas Henry Williams

Thomas Henry Williams, 79, of Johnson City, died Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was a native of Chattanooga, son of the late Cleo Jane Morgan. Tom was retired from National Linen Service after 42 years. He was a member of the Cherokee Church of Christ and the Harris Boulevard Church of Christ in Charlotte. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his dear wife of 58 years, Betty Standefer Williams in 2008; a brother, Billy Jolly and a sister, Dorothy Morris. Survivors include: three daughters and two sons-in-law (he would have been proud to call sons), Donna and Jim Lorenzen of Charlotte, NC, Rhonda Hawkins of N. Augusta, SC, Lynda and Terry Widener of Johnson City; four grandchildren, Tommy Lorenzen, Sheree Waslaske, Teri Miller and Christopher Hawkins; seven great grandchildren, Adora, Zoe, Zack, Whitman Thomas, Sophie, Jack and Avery; special pets, Buddy, King, Blacks and Kadiddle. A memorial service is scheduled for: Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the South Chapel of the Morris-Baker Funeral Home, under the direction of Minister Ed DeVault and assisted by Minister Tim Ellerbe. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at the funeral home. An entombment service will be conducted on Sunday following the memorial service, approximately 2:15 p.m. Active pallbearers will be: his grandson, Tommy Lorenzen; his grandson-in-law, Kemp Miller; nephews, Ronnie and Ray Standefer; Marvin and Stanley Walden, Randy Leindecker and Jeff Roth. Honorary pallbearers will be: T. W. Standefer, Roy Stallings, Christopher Hawkins, Larry Simerly, Bob Carleton and Richard Dugger. Special honorary pallbearers will be: all the players Tom coached and played with in his long softball career. Especially the Johnson City/Tri Cities Senior Teams he coached, age groups 50 to 65. A special thank you to the Softball Players Association that he proudly served as Regional Director and their support of the annual 'Tom Williams Tri Cities Classic'? senior softball tournament for the past 18 years. A special thanks to Richard and Fran. Memorials may be made to the Cherokee Church of Christ, 1421 Cherokee Road, Johnson City, TN 37604 or the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852.