Howard B Williams

Dr. Howard Bruce Williams passed away on November 12, 2021 at 93 years old. Dr. Williams was born on 12/27/27 in Morganton, NC to Ida Scott and Fred Richard Williams. He is survived by his sister Hazel Goode of Winston Salem, NC, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Alice Wellons and his five brothers Jack, Claude, Don, Joe, and Wayne.

Dr. Williams was the first to receive his Doctorate degree in his family. He received his doctorate of education from Argosy University. He also majored in Theatre at Indiana University, and received a Masters of fine arts in speech and drama at the University of Georgia. Dr. Williams received a Bachelor of Arts at Wake Forest University. His religious studies included a Masters of Divinity and Theology at Southern Baptist Seminary. He wrote many sermons and worked as a part time minister.

All of Dr. Williams’s professions supported his love for theatre. His professions included teaching for the NC school system, professorships at Brewton-Parker College, Campbellsville College, and Clark College, and as a long haul truck driver.

Dr. Williams performed in the following roles and plays including Hugh, John Bonous, Pastor Perrou, Hauss, and the Connelly Springs Doctor in From This Day Forward; Editor Webb in Our Town; Sir Dap in Camelot; Mr. Melton in The Legend of Tom Dooley, McCready in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Tom Beatty and Fletcher McGee in Spoon River Anthology, The Sexton in Much Ado About Nothing, The Roomer in Tale-Tell Heart, Mackinzie in Ten Little Indians, The Minister in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Slovitch in Fools.

Dr. Williams was also a director of stage and directed the following plays, The Glass Menagerie, Tartuffe, The Teahouse of the August Moon, The Tempest, Our Town, The Miser, The Learned Ladies, She Stoops to Conquer, Anne of Green Gables, and The Legend of Frankie Silver. He designed the sets for the plays he has directed and was the technical director for From This Day Forward.

Dr. Williams wrote three plays that were produced on stage with success: The Fisherman and His Wife, The Descendents of Shakespeare and The Legend of Frankie Silver. He was the founder of The Frankie Foundation. At his death he was writing three plays: The Brown Mountain Lights, a play on the biblical book of Esther, and a musical on the biblical book of Ruth.

Dr. Williams had two favorite hobbies which were playing scrabble and working the garden. He will be missed by his family and friends.

There will be fellowship after the memorial service at Hopewell Baptist Church at 1 pm on Thursday November 18th. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Burke Hospice, Hopewell Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kirkseyfh.com for the Williams family.