James Terrell Williams

James T. Williams ("Jim")

James T. Williams, lovingly known as Jim, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026, at the age of 92. Born on March 14, 1934, in the East Lake community of Atlanta, Georgia, Jim spent much of his life in Decatur, Georgia, where he built a life centered on faith and family.

Jim was the beloved son of the late Frank and Mary Williams.

Jim proudly served his country in the United States Army, a commitment that reflected the sense of duty, honor, and integrity that guided him throughout his life.

A faithful member of Decatur First Methodist Church, Jim was actively involved in Sunday School classes for more than 30 years. His Christian faith was the foundation of his life and was reflected in the kindness, generosity, and compassion he showed to everyone he met.

Jim was an alumni of Marist School of Atlanta.

Jim attended Auburn University, where he was a proud member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) fraternity. Known affectionately by his fraternity brothers and friends as "Po Devil," he remained a devoted Auburn Tigers fan throughout his life. Even in his final days, he loved telling stories about his Auburn years. It was at Auburn that he met the love of his life, Betty Lou. Together they shared 70 wonderful years of marriage (July 7, 2026), creating a legacy of love, faith, and family.

After college, Jim joined his father in the family real estate/property management business and eventually took over Gifford Realty company, leading it with dedication, honesty, and respect for many years. As the president of his company, Jim treated his office staff and all of his contractors as family. He was hands-on and personally visited with many of his tenants.

Jim was also a longtime member of Druid Hills Golf Club, where he enjoyed playing tennis and the friendships it brought.

Above all, Jim's greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty Lou Williams; his son, Charlie Williams and his wife, Isabel; and his daughter, Julie Carter and her husband, Lance. He was a proud grandfather to six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two children, Shelly Lifsey and James T. Williams Jr. We would like to acknowledge Sandra Simpson as a loyal caregiver for Jim.

Jim will be remembered for his faith, his love for his family, his service to his country, his dedication to his work, his lifelong loyalty to Auburn, and the countless stories that brought smiles to those around him. If anyone truly knew him knew that his love and pride of his yard was by far his favorite hobby. His gentle spirit, wisdom, and quiet strength left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

A life well lived, Jim leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, service, and integrity that will continue to inspire his family and friends for generations to come.

Service:

The family will have a private service on July 31, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Shriners Children's. https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/give/764723/#!/donation/checkout