ADEL — The Rev. Richard Vernon “Buddy” Williams, 88, of Adel died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Leila United Methodist Church with the Revs. Kenneth Matthews, Farrell Harper, Dan Robinson and V.L. Daughtry officiating. Interment will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ouitman.

The casketbearers are Ricky Roberson, Tim Jerry, the Rev. Richard Nash, Todd Griffin, the Rev. Mike Bennett and Stanley Griffin. Honorary pallbearers are Brandon Roe, Joe Carol Godwin, Stanley Williams, the Rev. Ronald Parten, Carl Pafford and Gary Grayham.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Purvis Funeral Home in Adel and also from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Leila United Methodist Church, prior to service.

Williams was born on Feb. 14, 1924 in Treutlen County to Soloman Wayne Williams and Mattie Pearl Page Williams, both deceased. He had lived in Norman Park, Jeffersonville, Statesboro, Hartsfield, Berlin, Sparks and Lenox. He moved to Colquitt County in 1936 and Cook County in June 1963. He moved to Adel in 1986.

Williams graduated from Doerun High School in Doerun. He served in the Army as a Private 1st Class as a M.P. in Brady, Tx. and Hawaii. He graduated from Norman College in Norman Park with a two-year degree. He earned his four-year degree from Georgia Southern College in Statesboro and earned his master’s degree in school administration from FSU. He graduated from Emory University with a course of study school five-year degree. Williams was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1969 in Valdosta; Bishop Smith ordained him at Valdosta First UMC.

Williams taught both sixth and seventh grades and also drove a school bus in Colquitt County. He was a United Methodist minister in the Valdosta district for 38 years, a pastor of Salem UMC for seven years, Shiloh UMC for three years, Chula-Harding UMC for four years, Leila-Weeks UMC for nine years, Evelyn UMC for five years, Pine Level UMC for one year and Kelley UMC for 10 years.

In addition, Williams was a principal and teacher in Twigs, Colquitt and Cook counties for 40 years. He was the principal of Sparks and Lenox schools for seven years (June 1963 to June 1970). He was a principal in Lenox from 1963 to 1986. He retired in June 1986. He was a member of Leila UMC.

Williams was preceded in death by his wife of over 65 years, Sue G. Williams; five brothers, Bill Williams, Albra Williams, Walter Gilby Williams, Eschol Russell Williams and Julian Williard Williams; and two sisters, Florence L. Johnson and Marion Williams.

Survivors include a son, the Rev. O. Ken Williams and his wife Mary Ann Sutton Williams of Adel; three brothers, Bronson Williams of Quitman, Paul Williams of Stone Mountain and Frank Williams of Brunswick; and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker Funeral Home.