Stanley Arthur Williams Jr. (Art) 72 of Tallahassee, Florida passed away on November 10, 2018 at home with his wife Daisy, and loved ones after a brief illness. Art was born in Madison, Florida on October 30,1946, and lived there until the late 1950’s when his family moved to Chattahoochee, Florida. After completing high school and working at Florida State Hospital for a brief tenure he joined the Navy in 1966 and was honorably discharged in 1970. After serving his country Art returned to Chattahoochee and worked at variety of positions at Florida State Hospital while using his GI Bill to obtain his undergraduate degree in Sociology. Art eventually moved to Tallahassee in the late 1970’s and worked for the Medicaid program in the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services achieving Bureau Chief level and later in The Agency for Health Care Administration where he worked in the regulatory area until regular retirement, DROP and additional stints later after formal retirement.
Art was dedicated to his work and was a role model for his peers. Shortly after moving to Tallahassee in 1982 Art suffered a spinal cord injury during a home invasion robbery that left him partially paralyzed. While others might have gone another direction Art did not let this slow him down and simply used it as additional motivation to achieve. His attitude was a positive influence as well as an inspiration and motivation to others. In 1995-96 Art was is a unit that was awarded a Davis Productivity Award for work related to cost avoidance strategies used to detect aberrant Medicaid claims and inappropriate payments related to those practices. The strategies involved saved millions of taxpayer dollars. Art claimed that his favorite and most fulfilling time during his employee tenure was when he was involved in pioneering the way for the Field Office Managers for Medicaid Program Integrity. Art loved his work and was a constant source of innovation.
Art’s favorite pastimes were music, reading, ANY FSU Sport, playing cards with family and friends, traveling and trying new things. Early in his teen years Art played guitar in a combo and continued to play gigs until he reported for military duty.
Art was devoted to his family and married his high school sweetheart Daisy Codero Gonzalez, in 1967 and they celebrated 51 years of an amazing marriage. Art unabashedly claimed that “Daisy was the best thing that ever happened to him!” Art was preceded in death by his parents Williamine Ethel Rae Williams and Stanley Arthur Williams and a brother Paul Rea Williams.
Art is survived by his wife Daisy Marina Codero Williams and two brothers Stephen and wife Terese Williams of Albany, Oregon and Timothy and Nyugen Williams of Sneads, Florida. Art also had a close relationship with Daisy’s brother, Dr. Louis Ramon Codero of the Dominican Republic and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial/celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home located at 1737 Riggins Road Tallahassee, Florida. In lieu of flowers the family requests that any memorial contributions be made in Art’s name to Big Bend Hospice.
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Big Bend Hospice1723 Mahan Center Blvd, Tallahassee, Florida 32308
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