After years of heart disease, Horace G. Williams’ heart finally gave out Thursday, May 19, 2022 at Columbus, Ga., Hospice House.
Horace was born on a family farm in Newton, Ala., during the Great Depression on Sept, 3, 1936 to Horace G. Williams and Thelma Haisten Williams. His father died just months after Horace was born. Thelma later leased the farm and moved to Montgomery. That’s where Horace was raised. His five siblings had been raised on the farm and he became a city kid, living on South Capital Parkway riding his bike around Montgomery to get to school, play ball and deliver newspapers. He often told the story of riding that bike downtown to witness Hank Williams’ funeral procession.
Horace was a master storyteller and often captivated family and friends with the stories of an interesting life. Horace excelled in baseball growing up in Montgomery. He played American Legion ball and continued to play at Sidney Lanier High School. He was also a batboy for the Montgomery Rebels. He earned a partial scholarship to Auburn University after graduating from Lanier in 1954. At first, his mother was against him accepting it and becoming the first in his family to pursue a college degree. Her objection? She thought it was charity. A Montgomery businessman convinced Horace’s mother that it wasn’t charity, but he had earned the opportunity at an education because of his athletic ability. A catcher, he became a cocaptain of the 1958 Auburn baseball team.
Upon graduation, he worked as a claim’s adjustor for Hartford Insurance Company in Montgomery, Ala. It was there he attended Jones Law School and earned his juris doctorate. Williams practiced law from 1969 until he retired to Panama City Beach, Fla., in 2003. His storytelling ability served him well during hundreds of jury trials, many of them in Barbour County. The bulk of his legal career was spent in Eufaula, joining a practice in 1970 with law partners Jere Beasley and Bill Robertson. He eventually became a sole practitioner and later formed the law firm of Williams, Potthoff, Williams & Smith. It was in that firm that he practiced with his son, Chip. And helped mentor young attorneys Courtney Potthoff and Joel Smith Jr.
Williams was a typical country lawyer who did everything from wills to real estate closings, but he specialized in civil defense work and earned a reputation as a go-to attorney for those being sued in Barbour County. A key part of his practice was his wife and paralegal, Brenda. He also was Eufaula City judge and represented the city of Eufaula in a number of complex legal matters. In addition to his legal career, Horace was an officer in the Alabama Air National Guard, serving for 26 years before retiring in 1983 as a lieutenant colonel. Throughout his life he enjoyed many pleasures and collected friends everywhere he went.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 44 years, Brenda. They shared a great mutual love and partnership. He is also survived by two of his three sons, Chuck (Cathy) Williams of Columbus and Marty (Catherine) Williams of Destin, Fla; and daughter-in-law Sheila Colombo of Eufaula; six granddaughters: Jaclyn Shaw, Shelby Copeland, Carmen Piggins, Joy Beth Brown, Mary Hannah Williams, and Anna Haisten Williams. Three greatgrandchildren, Cash Copeland, Austen Copeland and Lynleigh Shaw. And dozens of nieces and nephews; and one sister, Ann Nettles.
Horace was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Thelma; his son, Chip; his siblings, Annie Beth, Mary Dell, Joe, Sara, Hazel, and Shirley.
Pallbearers were Sam LeMaistre, Todd Singleton, Terry Walker, Rick Lingo, Bob Dixon and Walter Reeves. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Third Judicial Circuit Bar Association.
The family received visitors Sunday, May 22 from noon to 2 p.m. CDT at Chapman’s Funeral Home, 100 East Fair Street in Eufaula. A graveside service followed at 2:30 p.m. CDT at Fairview Cemetery Addition. The service was officiated by Rev. Chris Wilkinson, First Baptist Church, Eufaula, and Dr. Jimmy Elder, First Baptist Church, Columbus, Ga. Chapman Funeral Home directing. Horace was laid to rest next to his son.
