James Mercer Williams Jr. age 90 of Grayson, Georgia passed away Saturday April 1, 2023. Jim Williams was born 1932, in Miami, Florida He attended Boys High in Atlanta, & graduated Georgia Tech with a Chemical Engineering degree. He served 2 years in the US Army Chemical Corp in Anniston, AL, where he studied the effects of nuclear radiation on land & military vehicles & aircraft. In 1959, at age 25, when his father passed away, he took over the family businesses of Swim Quip & Williams Contracting Inc. · He married the love of his life, Barbara Covington in 1963 & celebrated 60 wonderful years together. They have 5 children, 21 grandchildren, & 10 great grandchildren. During the 1960's, he saw an opportunity in the slot car racing business and started Champion of Chamblee. Starting in 1962, he was a business partner with his best friend & brother, Virgil. Their businesses included industrial painting & maintenance services, fossil and nuclear power plant maintenance, engineering, environmental testing, superfund sites remediation, in-store banking operations and commercial & retail banking. Driven by his love of bench rest shooting and to have the best guns for competition, he started Williams Precision custom rifles. He enjoyed big game & bird hunting, salt & freshwater fishing, building fishing rods, gun collecting, bench rest gun building & shooting with grandchildren & family. He was an active member of Briarlake Baptist Church & their Businessmen's Bible Sunday School Class for 25 years. His church home of over 35 years, was Church on Main, formerly known as, First Baptist Church Snellville. He was preceded in death by his parents James Mercer Williams Sr. and Gertrude Gardner Williams, daughter Cherie Williams O'Neal  and by his sister Sue Williams Lane.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years Barbara Covington Williams of Grayson, sons and daughter in law Jerry & Kim Williams of Greensboro, Georgia, James Mercer Williams III of Madison, Georgia, daughters Linda Williams of Snellville, Georgia, Anne Williams of Elijay, Georgia, Barbie Williams of Watkinsville, Georgia. Grandchildren Tara Williams & Jeremy Shaia, Chad H. & Stephanie Williams, Amy & Connor Hammersmith, Dr. Taylor Williams, Cameron Bosson, Brandon & Jessica Bosson, Ryan Bosson, Jordan & Raquel Bosson, Jason Bosson, Christian Bosson, Abigail Bosson, Nathan Bosson, Emily Bosson, Colton Matovina, Mary Ann Williams, Mary Beth Williams, James Mercer Williams IV, Justin O'Neal, Travis & Savannah O'Neal, Candace & Matt Manley, Chandler & Katherine O'Neal  great grandchildren Chloe Shaia, Madeline Shaia, Graham Williams Shaia, James Shaia, Davis Ruble, Caroline Williams, Amelia Williams, Cohen Hammersmith, Harris Hammersmith, Riley Bosson, brother Virgil R. Williams Sr. of Suwanee, Georgia. brother in law Jack D. & Earlene Lane of Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday April 5, 2023 at The Church on Main 2400 Main Street E Snellville, Georgia 30078. with Dr. James Merritt, Pastor Brian Boyles and Pastor Terry Hopkins officiating with interment to follow at Snellville Historical Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening April 4, 2023 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm  at the funeral home. In Lieu of flowers please make contributions in honor of James Mercer Williams Jr. to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital at stjude.org or to Church on Main at my.churchonmain.net/page/930 , or to Church On Main  P.O. Box 647 Snellville, Ga 30078. Arrangements by Byrd and Flanigan Crematory & Funeral Service, Lawrenceville, Georgia. 770-962-2200