Fred Clayton Williams Jr.

Fred Clayton “Tommy” Williams Jr, 90, went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 5, 2026, after a short and hard fought battle with melanoma cancer. Fred was the son of the late Fred Williams Sr and Sally Frances Baker Williams. Fred aka “grampy or gramps” was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Fred was born in Farmville NC in 1936. Around the age of 6, Fred’s parents moved to Carolina Beach. Fred loved the beach and grew up in a time when there was no TV. He would speak of enjoying the simpler times of listening to the radio and the episodes of the Lone Ranger and Mystery Theater. As a youth, Fred spent his days working and having fun growing up at the beach. From body surfing to being what he called a “soda jerk” serving customers milkshakes and malts at the local drug store, to working at the Carolina Beach Fishing Pier. It was at the pier one summer when Fred met the love of his life, Nancy Emerson. Nancy’s parents were vacationing at the beach and she would come talk with Fred while he was working at the pier. Fred soon gave Nancy his high school class ring. After a brief courtship, “Grampy” said he asked Nancy to take off the class ring, asked her to marry him and then gave her a diamond. Fred and Nancy were married on February 22, 1958. Fred and Nancy loved life together while spending time at the beach, traveling around the country, square dancing and just being together as husband and wife. They loved one another dearly until Nancy’s passing on May 21, 2025. They were married for 67 wonderful years.

Fred was a United States Navy veteran and spent 4 years serving his country as a 3rd class electronics technician. After the Navy, Fred and Nancy would start their family and Fred begin his career in the United States Postal Service where he worked for 35 years. Fred also had a special gift as a “craftsman.” He used this wonderful talent building wooden lighthouses, furniture for his grandchildren and other unique items for family and friends.

Grampy always had a smile on his face. He was the most wonderful and kind person you could ever hope to meet and have the pleasure of knowing. His warm and gentle spirit made everyone he knew feel welcomed and loved. Most important to “Grampy” was Nancy and their 4 children. More than anything, Fred spoke of how much he loved his wife and children. He provided for them, took care of them and gave them a foundation in life that was a role model for all fathers.

Fred is survived by his sons Jeff and wife Angela, Jerry and wife Guenevere, Alan and wife Sunny, daughter Sharon and husband “Charlie”, grandchildren, Kelsey, Kendall, Maya, Jonah, Hunter, one great grandchild Everett. Fred was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, and two sisters…Charlotte Powers and Janice Russell.

The family would like to thank all those in the Greensboro Hospice service for their guidance and the care they provided. They would also like to give a very special thank you to Sandy Kirkpatrick, Kim Pack and Kayle Brown for their wonderful caregiving of Grampy as his health declined. The family would also like to thank Beth Ann Harrington, Mike Geary, Gean Dean, John Rosato, Ashley Lankford and Kenneth Zoch at Hanes-Lineberry funeral home for their compassionate and caring help during this difficult time.

The family will have a private ceremony where Fred’s ashes will be spread, along with Nancy’s, at Carolina Beach. The family ask, if you would like, please share a memory of Fred on the Hanes-Lineberry web page and make a donation to your church or favorite charity in Fred’s memory.