Harvey Robert Williams

Harvey Robert Williams, Jr., age 73, of Birmingham, passed from this earthly life on March 5, 2013. He was born on December 8, 1939 in Calhoun County in a sharecropper’s house with no electricity or indoor plumbing.  The youngest of five children, he was called Bobby. Bobby attended Oxford Elementary School, Oxford Junior High, and graduated from Oxford High School in the Class of 1958.  He attended college under the co-op plan, working for the State of Alabama Highway Department.  After attending Jacksonville State and Auburn Universities, he moved to Birmingham to work in the new 3rd Division of the Highway Department in Right-of-Way Acquisition. Harvey’s religious experience began at Holly Springs Baptist Church where he was baptized in Choccolocco Creek at the age of twelve. As a teenager, he was a charter member of Golden Springs Baptist Church in Oxford.  After moving to Birmingham, he joined Hunter Street Baptist Church. While there, he felt the call of God to work with the deaf.  He moved to the First Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham to study with the interpreter there.  When she moved away, he became the interpreter and remained there for 18 years.  After First Baptist moved away, he became a member of Huffman Baptist Church and also began interpreting at New Pilgrim Baptist Church and was still there 26 years later. Harvey was loved by many and will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents Harvey R. Williams, Sr. and Audrey White Williams, brothers C.P. Williams, Sr. and C. W. Williams, sister, Juanita Williams Jobson, and nieces Lynn Jobson Carter and Audrey Jobson Haynes. He is survived by his wife, Marie Clarke Williams, daughter, Amy Marie Williams, son, Clarke Robert Williams, brother, King Edsel Williams, numerous beloved nieces and nephews, in-laws and cousins. Services will be held on Friday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Elmwood Chapel with Rev. Glenn Slye officiating.  Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be Thursday evening, March 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Elmwood Chapel.