Fred Williams

Fred was born in Hopewell, VA, on January 3, 1930, to Robert Franklin and Lina Clyde Williams. He grew up in Kinston, NC, the oldest of four boys, always putting his family first. Upon graduating from Grainger High School in 1949, having played three sports and making the all-state baseball squad his senior year, Fred served in the US Army during the Korean War, reaching the rank of Sergeant First Class in the 1st Calvary.

Upon returning, Fred utilized the GI Bill and attended East Carolina College, graduating in 1957, after just three years of study. He took a job as a teacher and coach at New Hanover High School in Wilmington, NC. In 1962, he became head coach and athletic director at Millbrook High School in Raleigh, NC, where he was lovingly referred to by his athletes as “Coach.” There he coached the football, basketball, baseball, and track teams, with great success, until 1971.

Over the next twenty years he served as Assistant Principal at Millbrook High School, Principal at Millbrook Middle School, and Wake County Superintendent of Athletics in Raleigh, NC. He ended his career as Athletic Director at Page High School in Greensboro, NC, from 1980 to 1991, leading the school to 14 state championships during his tenure.

In 1991, he and wife, Nancy, retired to Cary, NC, where Fred served as a Deacon at Ephesus Baptist Church. In later years, Fred and Nancy were residents at Magnolia Glen Senior Living Center in Raleigh, NC.

Fred was a devoted husband who loved travelling with his wife, Nancy. His happiness was always visible when he was coaching, being blessed with players who became like family. He was a proud member of the Williams family, striving to always fulfill the promise to keep the family together. While he has always been a loving father and grandfather, it was no match to the adoration he had for his great-granddaughters.

Those preceding him in death are his mother, Lina Clyde Williams; father, Robert Franklin Williams; son, Robert “Ricky” Fredrick Williams, Jr.; and brothers, Sherrill Davis Williams, Jerry O’Neil Williams, and Darwin Clyde Williams.

Those left behind to cherish Fred’s memory are his wife, Nancy Rigsbee Williams of Cary, NC; daughter, Linda Williams Villa of Youngsville, NC; stepdaughter, Karen Davis Newins (John) of Chesapeake, VA; grandchildren, Wanda Evans of Youngsville, NC; Laurie Evans (Neil Williams) of Raleigh, NC; and Brandon Newins (Amanda) of Chesapeake, VA; and great-granddaughters, Poppy Evans of Youngsville, NC; and Ellie Williams of Raleigh, NC.

The family will receive friends on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 9:15 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home. Interment will immediately follow at Raleigh Memorial Park with the rendering of military honors. Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below.

Brown-Wynne of Cary is honored to serve the Williams family.