Bruce Williams
VIRGINIA BEACH—Bruce Jester Williams, 54, fourth generation peanut farmer, dairy farmer and real estate developer, died May 25, 2009, in his home after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Nansemond County, he was a graduate of Suffolk High School and held two associate degrees from Tidewater Community College.
He was the son of Antoinette Poulson Williams and the late Howard Nathaniel Williams.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Craig Nathaniel Williams and nephew, Timothy Craig Edwards. Bruce was an active participant in many organizations including Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow.
He was president of the South East Young Farmers and president of the Kings Fork Ruritan Club.
As founder and owner of Hampton Roads Properties, he was involved in many real estate associations. He was president of the Suffolk-Franklin Board of Realtors, president of Suffolk-Franklin, Portsmouth-Chesapeake Board of Realtors and was a member of the National Realtors Land Institute, and the Suffolk Committee for RPAC.
As a developer his most recent development was Chippokes Estates in Surry County.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, The Scottish Rites, Suffolk Shrine Club and a member of Regional Shrine Club. He was a longtime member of the Town Point Club.
Mr. Williams was very active in the boating community, both locally and in Florida. He and his wife, Tammy, enjoyed many boating travels on their boat, the “Tammy 1” from the Chesapeake Bay, the complete East Coast, Florida’s West Coast, Florida Keys and to the Bahamas including Abacos.
Many of his last days were spent at his home in Stuart, Fla., watching the manatees swimming near his porch.
Survivors include his wife, Tammy Williams of Virginia Beach; mother, Antoinette Poulson Williams of Suffolk; sister, Joan W. Edwards and husband Prince of Norfolk; brother, Ronald H. Williams and wife Karen of Suffolk; niece, Amy E. Myers and Patrick of Norfolk, Lisa Y. Edwards of Norfolk; nephews, Ronald H. Williams Jr. and Beth of Norfolk, David J. Williams of Brazil; great-nieces and -nephews; mother and father-in-law, Madeline and Allen Lockwood; brother-in-law, Robert Baker; sister-in-law, Tracy L. Pars and husband Karl.
A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. today in Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. The celebration will be led by the Revs. Robert J. Parks and Ted E. David.
R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, Suffolk, is serving the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Committee at Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA, 23434, the Virginia Beach Fire and Rescue, 17th Street, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451 or a wonderful way to honor his memory and fight pancreatic cancer is to donate to Johns Hopkins University in memory of Bruce J. Williams.
Mail donations to: Ralph H. Hruban, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242, Baltimore, MD 21231-2410.
Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.