Gary Howell Williams

Born in Eads TN, Gary was a graduate of Memphis State University where he met Christine (Blackard), his wife of 58 years. Gary spent his early career as a math teacher, also coaching basketball, football, and track. To better care for his family, he left teaching in 1979 (after a state championship win with the Melrose High School boys basketball team!) to begin a career with Eastern Airlines. That career decision would change the course of all their lives and provide the most incredible childhood for his daughters. The family moved to Fort Washington MD and later Douglasville GA where Christine and Gary raised the girls with proximity to all Atlanta had to offer but also open land, horses in the barn, and access to the best friends anyone could ever meet. This new career also allowed Gary and Christine to give their daughters the world with “educational” trips to England and Greece during the school year when everyone else had to do homework. The small family of four traveled the world together and built many memories. The move to Atlanta is a decision the girls are still grateful for to this day.

Following his airline career, he returned to teaching and coaching in 1992 when he and Christine returned to Memphis. He coached at Whitehaven High School in Memphis where he was able to return to his love of the game and the young men in his care. Gary was honored to mentor young men who are now husbands, fathers, business owners, and even coaches themselves. He remained in contact with some and remained proud of all of them. He enjoyed his connections to his former players on social media. After coaching he moved into administration at Whitehaven, White Station High School, and eventually retired from Cordova Middle School.

Following retirement, Gary and Christine moved to Ashland MS where they again had horses and a large garden. Gary became a bit of a “hummingbird whisperer,” often hanging and managing thirty feeders and using up to ten pounds of sugar per day to keep his little friends fed. The back patio often sounded like helicopters were landing during the busy hummingbird migration season, and this was Gary’s favorite time of year.

Gary was enormously proud of his family. He supported Christine as she traveled the world (often leaving at the last minute) with her job. They even spent their 25th wedding anniversary on a train traveling through the mountains of Transylvania! His eldest daughter Jennifer followed in his footsteps as a teacher and in her you can see his dark hair, blue eyes, and love of education. His youngest daughter Shannon is the “son he never had,” sharing his love of sports. Shannon was almost literally in his back pocket at every Whitehaven basketball game. He always had the answer and came to the rescue when either of his girls struggled with anything. His grandsons, Oliver and Cannon, were the ‘cherry on top’ of his life. As young children, he would walk beside whatever horse they wanted to ride for as long as they would consent to stay on. He was a fun grandfather, full of laughs and gentle teasing. Last year he and his future son-in-law, Ron, met and became fast friends. Gary welcomed him and found comfort in knowing another true caretaker is soon to join the family. He was always a husband and father ahead of everything else and we are forever grateful.

Gary was undoubtedly met by those that preceded him in death including his parents Hayden and Pauline Williams, elder brother Austin (whom he never met), and beloved baby brother and assistant coach Tommy, father and mother in law Hugh and Doris Blackard, sister in law and good natured sparring partner Ann Reichling, and son in law Jason Holt. We can only imagine the reunion of this group!

He is survived by his wife Christine, daughters Jennifer Holt(Jason) and Shannon Williams(Ron Haggart), sister Kay Bumpas (Danny), sister (and dance partner) and brother-in-law Karen and Rick Maestri, brother- in-law Steve Reichling (Ann), sister-in-law Mary Williams (Tommy), brother-in-law Walter Blackard (Bobbie), beloved grandsons Oliver and Cannon, nieces and nephews Garron, Cooper(Kate), Ashley (Lee) , Amy (Jason), Melissa, Stacy, Samantha (Scott), and Chad (Kristen). His list of friends is endless.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in his name to your local animal rescue or shelter. His dogs were especially important to him, and they were all rescues.

In his memory, love your family well as he did. Make a positive difference in the life of a young person. Go to a really great concert or a basketball game. Hang a hummingbird feeder. Take care of each other as he took care of us.