Willie Williams

Willie B. Williams, age 82, passed away on June 25, 2026 at the William S. Middleton VA Hospital in Madison. He was born on September 11, 1943 in Crystal Springs, Mississippi to Eugene and Fannie Mae Williams.

Willie enlisted in the United States Army in 1962 and proudly served two tours during the Vietnam War. During his military service, he was awarded the Purple Heart and earned two Bronze Star Medals in recognition of his service. He married Dorothy "Dot" West on December 30, 1965 in Hawaii, she preceded him in death on January 15, 2022. Willie was an active speaker and was deeply involved with Veterans for Peace, dedicating his time and voice to advocating and public speaking. Willie appeared in the documentary film The Good Soldier, where he shared his experiences and perspectives of the war. He loved bowling and achieved quite a few high scores. He worked for Greyhound transport company, retiring in 1989; then continuing to work various jobs.

Willie is survived by his daughter Letha (Daniel) Herfel; grandsons Maurice (Shannon) Wilson, Leonard (Jackie) Wilson, and Xavier Jason Anton King; 15 great grandchildren; his sister Lucille Young; and several nieces and nephews in Crystal Springs, MS and the surrounding areas.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy "Dot; parents; and granddaughter Brande' Browne.

A special thank you to the entire staff at the VA Hospital; especially to the nurses on 3B North and to the hospice team.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Veterans for Peace https://madisonvfp.org/about/

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Ryan Funeral Home, 2418 N Sherman Ave, Madison. A visitation will be held on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.