Mark David Williams, age 56, of Harvest, Alabama died at home on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, after a long battle with brain cancer. He was born October 22, 1963 in Natick, Massachusetts to David Adelbert and Jane Rose Williams of Harvest, Alabama. Mark was a faithful member of Grace Baptist Church in Madison Alabama. He also volunteered at The Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen in Huntsville Alabama and owned Chateau de Faux, Inc. for over 17 years before his health forced him to close the doors.
Now let us look back at Mark’s life. His childhood was filled with many adventures from the various places he lived. In Spain, he picked up the local language very quickly to the amazement of his parents. In Okinawa, he was a rascal of a kid and enjoyed a varied diet including snails that he would grab and eat off the walls. In Germany he loved going to school and talked of colorful, sweet smelling crayons that looked better than they tasted he later admitted. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he joined the swim team and spent many days diving and snorkeling at the jetty with his brother Jeff. Back in the states, he attended college while living in New Mexico and worked construction part time. Mark eventually joined the US Navy and trained to be a CT and then he was off to see the world yet again.
Let us fast forward to 1998, and you will find Mark getting married to Angie at Valhalla Memory Gardens. This would start a crazy and hectic life with a blended family, the startup of a new business in faux finishing, a move to their first and only house and as if that wasn’t enough, then throw in a lab puppy to boot. Ultimately though, they made it work and were married for 21 years with the usual ups and downs along the way. Their blended family consisted of five children to start and then God blessed Mark and Angie with two more. Mark was always making those kids laugh with some silly joke or story and maybe, just maybe, hiding around the corner to grab and tickle them until they couldn’t stop laughing. He was full of life and such a joy to be around. Thinking ahead to retirement, he also tried to pass on his skills as an artist and faux finisher to his kids. He encouraged them with an entrepreneurial spirit to find their passion and calling in the business world or on the mission field.
Now, let’s look further into the life of Mark Williams. If you were asked to describe Mark, what would you say? Some people would say that he loved the Lord with all his being; that he ran a success business for 18 years; that he loved his family; that he was a street preacher; that he worked hard to provide for his family; that he was a faithful brother in Christ; that he was a very creative self-taught artist; that he was a giver of his time and money; that he was an “out of the box” thinker that just had to solve whatever problem might come his way; but how would Mark describe himself, I wonder. Well, I have heard him say that he was a man with many faults and full of sinfulness, saved by the grace of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And that it is God alone that we should look to and not ourselves. One of his favorite verses was Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” I would like to add Hebrews verse 13 “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
I saw that Mark’s passion was to go out and preach the Good News of Christ to everyone on the street and to share the love of Christ with everyone he happened upon during his workday. I also saw that he was happiest when he was preaching the Word of God or having a God filled conversion his family, a seeker, a lost person or a believer in Christ. He did and spoke all of that to the glory of the Lord. Now he is totally free from his bondage. We will miss him dearly, but are happy for him because he has shed the tent that weighed him down for so long. Let me conclude by saying this, God works in the smallest of details to bring about transformations in people’s hearts and lives. Mark was one of those transformations. This writer has been a witness to the power of the Gospel of Christ.
Mark is survived by his wife, Angie Williams of Harvest; daughter, Lyndsay Kay Krueger spouse Jake of Mason City, Iowa; daughter, Cassandra Jane Anderson spouse Kyle of Mason City, Iowa; son, Anthony Mark Williams spouse Jamie of Cheyenne, Wyoming; step-son, Todd Allan Powell spouse Kate, military; daughter, Melissa Alice Brunsvold spouse Chad; daughter, Maya Elaine Williams of Harvest; son, Nathan Alexander Williams of Harvest; 13 grandchildren; nephew, Cody David Williams of Soldotna, Alaska; niece, Melinda Jane Williams of Soldotna, Alaska.
Memorials may be directed to Grace Baptist Church 122 Walnut Street, Madison, AL 35758 for missions: Ephesians 4:12 (local), Engage 360 (United States & Global), Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen (local)
A memorial service for Mark will be held Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 1:00 PM at Journey Church, 9640 Meridian Street N, Huntsville, AL with Pastor Dean Olive (GBC) officiating. A private burial will occur at Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valhallafunerals.com for the Williams family.
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