Obituary of Rudolph Williams

Funeral services for Rudolph W. Williams will be held on Friday, December 21, at 2:00 PM at the Bethany Baptist Church in Hebert, LA. Rudolph passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 18, 2012 at Maison de Lafayette Nursing Home in Lafayette, LA. He was 103 years old. Reverend Brian Rankin will conduct the funeral services. Burial will be in the Bethany Cemetery. A native of Hebert, LA, Rudolph was born of the union of Houston Williams and Mattie Collins Williams on February 23, 1909. Rudolph was a farmer for much of his life, then he worked for T. L. James in road construction until he retired. He served proudly in the United States Army during World War II. Survivors include his son, Donnie Williams and wife, JoeRenda, of Lafayette, and his daughter, Sharon Foy and husband, Buddy Foy, of Grayson, LA. His grandchildren, Darren Williams, Danielle Hutto, Misty Brien, Shayne Arthurs, Raines Barnett, and Chris Foy, and his former wife, the mother of his children, Edna Godwin. He was honored to have 13 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. He was affectionately known to his great grand children as "Old Papaw". He was preceded in death by his parents, his loving daughter, Mary Ann Kelly, and all of his brothers and sisters, Rev. Cecil Williams, Edgar Williams, Carl Williams, May McCartney, Minne Little, and Stella Howard. Rudolph was a gentle and kind soul until his last days. He will be greatly missed. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Darren Williams, Chris Foy, Duke Medaries, Coal Hillestad, Laine Hutto, Raines Barnett, Dylan Williams, and William Brien. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be Don McClanahan, Jon McClanahan, Travis Kirby, Roger Murphy, Wiley Kelly, Billie Joe Poole, Issac McClanahan and Norman Fakier. The family would like to thank the staff of Maison de Lafayette for their care and kindness given to Rudolph during his last years. We would also like to thank his church, Bethany Baptist, and its members for the many years of devotion and care shown to him. The family request that visitation be observed at Riser and Son's Funeral Home, Columbia, LA, on Thursday, December 20, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Then again on Friday, December 21 at the Bethany Baptist Church in Hebert, LA from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in honor of Rudolph Williams to the Bethany Baptist Church, 1740 Hwy 133, Columbia, LA 71418.