George Bruce Williams

George Bruce Williams departed this life on August 25, 2021 in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama after a short illness. He was surrounded by his beloved wife and devoted sons. He was 80 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents George Christian Williams and Myrtice Albrest Williams and his brother William Christian Williams, all of Birmingham.

Bruce was born on May 16, 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama and spent his childhood living in the Norwood neighborhood. He and his family were active members of First United Methodist Church in downtown Birmingham. A gifted vocalist, Bruce was invited to sing in the church’s men’s choir as an adolescent. He had a lifelong love for classical and choral music which stirred something deep in his soul.

Bruce loved the City of Birmingham and told many stories of happy memories of coming of age in the Magic City. He often recalled that at the age of 12 his mother taught him and his older siblings how to drive at the parking lot at Legion Field. Learning to drive in parking lots became a family tradition. A 1959 graduate of Phillips High School, Bruce attended Birmingham Southern College, Auburn University and UAB where he earned a degree in Computer and Information Sciences. He was a loyal and enthusiastic Auburn football fan for life.

Bruce joined the United States Navy in 1961 and served his country during an important time in its history. His ship was underway in the Atlantic during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Later, Bruce served aboard the USS Saratoga in the South China Sea as part of the war in Vietnam. During the height of the Cold War, he was deployed to the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean onboard the USS John F. Kennedy. In 1984, he retired from the Navy while serving as Regimental Commander in the Schools Command at Great Lakes Naval Training Center where he began his Naval career 23 years earlier.

After he retired from the Navy, Bruce and family returned to Sweet Home Alabama, settling in Birmingham. He started a second career as a systems analyst in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at UAB. He was an avid UAB basketball fan attending many exciting games at Bartow Arena. During his 18-year career at UAB, all three of his sons attended and graduated from UAB which afforded many opportunities for father-son lunches on and around campus.

Bruce had a deep and abiding love for Alabama, took great interest in his family history, and kept the family stories front and center. He could count among his forebears people from many corners of the state. His father was raised in Bridgeport while his mother grew up in Castleberry. Bruce’s grandparents hailed from Blount County, Conecuh County, Shelby County and Jefferson County. He always spoke with awe of the pioneering spirit of his maternal great grandfather, Thomas Allen Buffington and his maternal grandfather, Jesse Fredrick Albrest, who homesteaded hundreds of acres in Conecuh County. Bruce also admired his paternal grandfather, William Claiborne Williams, who served as a medic in the Spanish American War and a medical officer for the Selective Service System during World War II. He often visited the Shelby Iron Works where his great grandfather, Jefferson Payne Christian, served as superintendent during the Civil War.

He enjoyed simple pleasures like driving to Blount County to visit the famed covered bridges. He loved the highways and the byways. The beach and the mountains. He lived proudly atop Red Mountain.

To know Bruce was to know a man with a wonderful sense of humor and to recognize his great talent for telling stories. He was charming in social settings and always strived to be a gentleman. He was, throughout his life, devilishly handsome. He had a warm smile, striking blue eyes and a wonderful laugh. He appreciated a good joke, and he gave as good as he got. He also had a way with words, succinctly passing on gems of wisdom that remain cherished to this day. “Measure twice, cut once” comes readily to mind. “Hold the light still” was another classic. “There but for the Grace of God go I” was a frequent and poignant reminder to his sons about the importance of humility and compassion and it revealed his true character as a good and decent man.

As a longtime Chicago Cubs fan, he learned the art keeping things in perspective. “There’s always next year” was a frequent refrain around the house. His excitement and relief after the Cubs’ 2016 World Championship was a long time coming but was especially poignant for his family as Bruce dealt with serious illness. Bruce taught his sons everything about baseball and they each share his love for the game. Bruce’s playing days have long since passed but his boys still long for a chance for one more game of catch.

Bruce’s legacy was his family and marked by the values modeled through his relationship with his wife, Dr. Beverly Rosa Williams. They met and fell in love in Newport, Rhode Island. Their marriage spanned over 53 years and was a reservoir of inspiration and instruction for their sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. His children and grandchildren were a source of great pride for him, and he never missed an opportunity to see them participate in sports, music or mark important milestones in their lives. He was generous in his praise for each of them and always celebrated their accomplishments.

In addition to his wife, Beverly, he is survived by his sons Paul Christopher Williams (Cindy), Matthew Christian Williams (Christie) and Thomas Claiborne Williams (Carlen). He also leaves his sister Judith Williams Bergeron of Austin Texas and sister-in-law Christine Alyce Cody (Eric) of Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was blessed with many grandchildren: John Claiborne Williams, Phebe Rose Williams, George “Paschal” Williams, Matthew (“Hugh”) Christian Williams, Jr., Mary Margaret Williams, Paul Christopher (“Chris”) Williams, Jr., Grace Ann Williams, Mary Meagan Williams, Lauren Denise Crotwell (Caleb) and their children Colin Crotwell and Luke Crotwell, and Joshua Christopher Lawhorn.

The family has planned a private Columbarium service at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to First United Methodist Church “First Church Music Fund” (518 19th Street North, Birmingham AL, 35203) or to The Catholic Center of Concern in Birmingham (712 4th Ct. W Birmingham AL 35204) which provides direct aid to the poor, a mission so dear to Bruce’s heart. “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”

Throughout his life, Bruce was a wonderful husband, brother, father and grandfather and he will be greatly missed. He has left a legacy of faith, patriotism, love of family, and compassion for his fellow man. He will not be forgotten. His family finds hope in their belief that they will all be reunited with Bruce someday. In the meantime, they bid him fair winds and following seas.