Edwin LeGrand Williams, Jr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Boe
• SSN issued: 1952, Georgia, USA

Notes:

August 30, 2010
Businessman, historian Boe Williams dies

Dean Poling The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA - A long-time Valdosta businessman and one of the leading genealogists in South Georgia passed away this past weekend.

E.L. “Boe” Williams died Sunday after a long illness. He was 73 years old.

Williams opened the Country Cobbler shoe store 46 years ago in Valdosta. He was also chairman of South Georgia’s Huxford Genealogical Society.

In terms of the region’s history, Williams is said to have known more about South Georgia families than anyone else in the region.

“Boe has been the heart and soul of the Huxford Genealogical Society and South Georgia/ North Florida genealogy for many years,” said Donald O. Davis of the Lowndes County Historical Society Museum and a fellow Huxford Society officer. “He gave tremendous amounts of time and made sure that Judge Folks Huxford’s series ‘Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia’ continued. Boe was known far and wide for his vast specific family knowledge in genealogy. He loved the stories of the pioneers, and knew of them as did Judge Huxford, that in building their lives, they built a nation.”

His interest in family histories may have stemmed from his own roots.

Williams described himself in a 2001 Times article as being part of “a large, multi-generational family. ... I stayed with my grandparents a lot. My great-grandmother lived with them, and she was one of 27 children.”

Family patriarch and Boe Williams’ great-great-grandfather, Andrew Elton Williams, lived from 1800-1873. From this number of children came 160 grandchildren.

Since 1903, the family has held a reunion in Waycross.

Based on his family, Williams wrote the book “Andrew Elton Williams: Ancestors, Contemporaries, Descendants and Allied Families.” Williams wrote numerous columns, articles, and other texts about regional families and history.

Boe Williams was born June 1, 1937, in Waycross. As a teenager, he moved to Florida.

He attended Florida State University. He opened his first shoe store in Tallahassee, Fla.

If history was his life, shoes were his livelihood. Williams once said, “I’ve been in the shoe business in one way or another since I was 13 years old.”

In 1964, Edwin L. “Boe” Williams and his wife, the former Carolyn Barrientos, moved to Valdosta and opened the Country Cobbler shore store. The store was originally located in Downtown Valdosta.

The downtown business had only 2,000 square feet and stocked about 4,000 pairs of shoes. Business grew.

A second store at Five Points followed. Both stores combined into a Valdosta mall location until moving into the Country Cobbler site on Gornto Road.

Additional stores opened in Waycross, Jacksonville, Fla., and Gainesville, Fla.

Williams earned the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southeast Shoe Travelers and National Shoe Charity in the late 1990s.

Though the stores grew and business expanded, Boe Williams strived for a personal touch in his stores.

“Department stores are a mile wide and an inch deep,” Williams is quoted as saying in Footwear News in 2000. “Specialty stores are a mile deep and an inch wide. We’re somewhere in between. We’ve created a personality in the store.”

Carolyn helped with the store daily. She passed away Aug. 31, 2003. Boe Williams passed away two days short of the seventh anniversary of Carolyn’s death. Williams had since remarried wife Carol.

His son Cason followed in Boe’s footsteps at Country Cobbler.

Named for the late Judge Folks Huxford, the Huxford Genealogical Society’s continued success owes much to Williams’ efforts.

The story goes that, several years ago, Williams sought family history and was sent to see Huxford. Williams found the judge eating in a Homerville restaurant. The two men spoke at great length during that first meeting and developed a friendship. Williams later helped Huxford create the society.

Williams was a man who looked for positive outcomes.

“I like win-win situations rather than win-lose situations,” he said in 2001. “Most situations you run into, somebody wins, and somebody loses.”

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, First Baptist Church, Valdosta.

Died:
Edwin L. "Boe" Williams, Jr.

Edwin L. "Boe" Williams, Jr. of Valdosta, died Sunday, August 29, 2010 after fighting a long battle with leukemia. Boe was born on June 1, 1937 in Waycross, to the late Edwin L. Williams, Sr., and the late Doris Cason Williams. He was the great-grandson of the late Joseph Benjamin Cason, Sr., and Fredda Harbin Cason of Waycross, and the late George Newton Williams and Bessie Box Williams of Dothan, AL.

Boe spent his most of his childhood in Waycross. During a brief period of time, he and his family lived in Broadhurst, Ga., a little turpentine and saw mill town, just outside of Jesup. One of his favorite past-times was sharing stories about the days he lived in Broadhurst and the many colorful characters he encountered there. In high school, his family moved to Cottondale, FL. Before moving to Cottondale, he had earned his Life Scout Badge with the Boy Scouts of America. One of his only regrets was that he was never able to complete the work needed for his Eagle Scout Badge as Cottondale did not have a BSA chapter.

After high school, he attended Florida State University where he received a B.S. Degree in Business. It was there that he met his wife of 45 years, the late Carolyn Barrientos Williams. Soon after college, he opened his first shoe store in Tallahassee, Fl. In 1964, soon after moving to Valdosta, he and Carolyn opened Country Cobbler Shoe Store in downtown Valdosta. Together, they built a successful enterprise with additional stores in Waycross, Gainesville, FL, and Jacksonville, FL.

In addition to his business, he was a regionally respected genealogist. He founded and served as Chairman of the Board for the Huxford Genealogical Society in Homerville, GA. He contributed to numerous genealogical articles, periodicals and the Huxford Society's series, The Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia. He also served as the Williams Family Historian. He was instrumental in preserving the historic Williams Family Reunion, one of the largest reunions in the country, which was first held in 1903 in Graceville, FL. In 2003, he authored Andrew Elton Williams: Ancestors, Contemporaries, Descendants, and Allied Family, a book about the patriarch of his Williams family, who settled in Graceville, FL.

He was an avid outdoorsman who loved exploring nature, whether it was the Okefenokee Swamp or the great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. He also had a unique passion for racing Homing Pigeons. For over 45 years, he was a member of the Valdosta Pigeon Racing Club and the Dixie Combine. If you had a minute to spare, he would take you to see his pigeons and educate you on the sport.

The oldest of 23 first cousins, he was a natural leader and a man of faith. He always found the best in people and this trait made him a devoted husband, brother, father and grandfather as well as loyal friend. He did not have good "customers" at Country Cobbler, rather good friends. Everyone was welcome and he was delighted to serve three and four generations of families in his store.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Barrientos Williams. His survivors include his wife, Carol Fletcher Williams of Valdosta, his sister and brother-in-law, Fredda Williams Shutes & Vivian Shutes of Panama City, FL; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Edwin L. (Edd) Williams, III of Atlanta, and Cason Williams & Leisa Williams of Hahira; and one daughter and a son-in-law, Ginny Williams Kirkland & Lawson Kirkland of Hahira; and four grandchildren, Anna Williams, Taylor Williams, Carolyn Kirkland and Young Kirkland, all of Hahira. He is survived as well by three step-children; step-daughter and son-in-law, Jarrett McAllister Tennyson & Glen Tennyson of Albany, step-daughter Kelly McAllister of Albany, and step-son, Hunter New, Jr., of Quitman. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a whole host of cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Valdosta with the Minister Mack Weaver officiating. The internment will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be held Wednesday night from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Carson McLane Funeral Home. Active pallbearers are Remley Farr, George Farr, Harbin Farr, Leonard Butler, Randy Drupiewski, Joe Drupiewski, Ben Cason and Bruce Moye. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Joe and Fredda Cason Scholarship Fund Waycross College, 2001 South Georgia Parkway, Waycross, GA 31503, 912.449.7600; The Williams Family College Scholarship Fund, C/O Jimmy Williams, Treasurer, 5395 Battleship Parkway, Spanish Fort, AL 36527, The Huxford Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 595, Homerville, GA 31634-3151, (912) 487-2310 www.huxford.com; or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202, www.leukemia-lymphoma.org. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanefuneralservices.com Carson McLane Funeral Home

Edwin married Caroyln Fay Barrientos on 3 Jun 1958 in Leon, Florida, USA. Caroyln (daughter of Lawless Joseph Barrientos, Sr and Living) was born on 4 Nov 1938 in Apalachicola, Franklin, Florida, USA; died on 31 Aug 2003 in Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia, USA; was buried on 3 Sep 2003 in Riverview Memorial Gardens, Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living

Edwin married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• SSN issued: Georgia, USA
• Social Security Number: 255-12-2042

Edwin married Doris Luella Cason on 14 Jun 1936 in Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA. Doris (daughter of Joseph Benjamin Cason, Sr and Leonard Fredda Harbin) was born on 17 Jun 1910 in Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA; died on 13 Jan 2004 in Quitman, Brooks, Georgia, USA; was buried in First United Methodist Church Cemetery, Cottondale, Jackson, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• SSN issued: Florida, USA
• Name: Doris C. Williams
• Social Security Number: 261-23-3425
• Residence: 1920, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA; Waycross Ward 3
• Residence: 1930, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA

Notes:

Died:
Doris C. Williams

QUITMAN -- Doris C. Williams, 93, passed away on Jan. 13, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center, Valdosta, following a short illness. She had spent her last several years in the Presbyterian Home in Quitman.

Born June 17, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Fredda Harbin Cason and Joseph B. Cason Sr. Born and reared in Waycross, she was the last surviving member of the Waycross High School Class of 1926. After attending Tift College in Forsythe, she worked for a short time with the AB&C Railroad, Waycross, then moved on to serve as principle at Inman School, north of Manor.

After her marriage in 1936, to Edwin L. Williams Sr., she lived in Waycross, Moultrie, Albany and Jesup where she was a homemaker and a schoolteacher.

In 1953, she moved with her family to Cottondale, Fla., which she soon adopted as a second hometown. While there she was an active member of the community and a frequent substitute teacher. She later served many years as city clerk, being named to that position which had been held by her late husband.

Mrs. Williams was well respected and loved by all who knew her. She shared generously with family, friends and neighbors her varied talents as artist, seamstress, poet, author and tutor.

A former member of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, she was a member of First Baptist Church, Cottondale, Fla., where she served in various capacities of leadership. She taught Sunday School for over 60 years.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph B. Cason Jr.; a great-granddaughter, Kathryn "Katy" Crosby; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn B. Williams; and two brothers-in-law, Charles N. Drinkwater and Leonard P. Butler.

She is survived by two children, Edwin L. "Boe" Williams, Jr., Valdosta, and Fredda Shutes, Panama City, Fla.; two grandsons, Edwin L. "Edd" Williams, III, Atlanta, Cason (Leisa) Williams, Valdosta; four granddaughters, Virginia "Ginny" (Lawson) Kirkland, Valdosta, Miriam (Robert) Shutes-Taylor, and Brenda Reed, Panama City, Fla., and Jennifer (Bill) Moreland of Birmingham, Ala.; one brother, Richard K. (Irene) Cason, Lutz, Fla.; four sisters, Nelda Drinkwater, Frances Butler, Carol Jean (George) Farr, all of Waycross and Montine (Kenn) Drupiewski of Winter Park, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Hazel Rogers Cason, Waycross; four great-grandchildren, Amanda and Brandon Reed, Panama City, Anna and Taylor Williams, Valdosta; and one great-great grandchild, Alexis Reed, Panama City, Fla.; as well as many nieces and nephews also survive her.

Funeral services will be held at the chapel of Miles-Odum Funeral Home at 3 p.m., today, Jan. 15, 2004, with visitation at the funeral home one hour prior to service. Dr. David Drake, pastor, at Central Baptist Church will preside.

Graveside services will be conducted Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. CST at the First Methodist Church Cemetery, Cottondale, Fla., with the Rev. Jack Brock, pastor of First Baptist Church, Cottondale, Fla., officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Waycross College Foundation, or a favorite charity. -- Miles-Odum Funeral Home, Waycross

Obituaries for

The Valdosta Daily Times
Thursday, January 15, 2004

Other Events and Attributes:

• Race: White
• SSN issued: Railroad Board (Issued Through)
• Social Security Number: 705-01-3137
• Residence: 1900, Sweat District, Ware, Georgia, USA
• Residence: 1900, Sweat District, Ware, Georgia, USA; Age: 13; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son
• Residence: 5 Jun 1917, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA; Not Stated
• Residence: 1920, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA; Waycross Ward 3
• Residence: 1930, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA
• Residence: 1974, Ware, Georgia, USA

Notes:

Cemetery source: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/ware/cemeteries/lott.txt

Joseph married Leonard Fredda Harbin on 30 Jan 1908 in Hebardville, Ware, Georgia, USA. Leonard (daughter of Reverend John Foster Harbin and Louella Jane Booth) was born on 16 Feb 1892 in Waltertown, Ware, Georgia, USA; died on 22 Nov 1983 in Ware, Georgia, USA; was buried in Lott Cemetery, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Ware, Georgia, USA
• Vital: 2 Dec 1983; Certificate number: 041092.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Race: White
• Residence: 1850, Ware, Georgia, USA; Division 89
• Residence: 1860, Ware, Georgia, USA; Not Stated
• Residence: 1870, Glenmore, Ware, Georgia, USA; Subdivision 130
• Residence: 1880, Waresboro, Ware, Georgia, USA
• Residence: 1900, Sweat District, Ware, Georgia, USA; Age: 58; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head

James married Nancy Jane Mizell in 1869 in Ware, Georgia, USA. Nancy was born on 26 May 1855 in Georgia, USA; died on 11 Oct 1898 in Georgia, USA; was buried in Kettle Creek Cemetery, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John + Louella Jane Booth. Louella was born on 2 Mar 1871 in Argyle, Clinch, Georgia, USA; died on 4 Jun 1947 in Ware, Georgia, USA; was buried in Lott Cemetery, Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Ninnie
• Race: White
• Name: Louella J Harbin
• Residence: 1947, Ware, Georgia, USA

Notes:

Died:
Age: 76 Years