James Lee Williams, Sr., loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away at the age of 86 years on May 11, 2025.  Born in Portsmouth, VA, he spent his entire life in the Port Norfolk community.  Jimmy was the son of the late George Eugene Williams and Thelma Louis Harrell.  He is predeceased by his wife Joan Rae Williams, brother G. Eugene Williams and his two sisters Ruth Cutchins and Audrey Willliams.

A sports enthusiast, Jimmy attended Wilson High School, , and was a member of the 1954 Virginia State Championship football team. He went on to play football at The University of South Carolina and graduated with an Accounting Degree.  He married Joan Rae Garthwright in 1959 and lived in Columbia, South Carolina before relocating to Portsmouth, Virginia.  During his career, Jimmy worked for NCR Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Virginia National/Sovran, and C&S/Sovran and served 24 years as the Portsmouth City Treasurer before retiring in 2018.

He was a member of the Portsmouth Sports Club/Past President and Director, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame/ Past Director and Board member, Grid Iron Club, Optimist Club, Portsmouth School Board, Southeastern Football Officials Association/Commissioner and Official, Youth Athletic Coach and Administrator, USC Letterman Gamecock Club, and served as the President of the annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament from 1980 - 1995.

He was a longtime member of Centenary United Methodist Church.  He and his wife Joan Rae loved to gather with family and socialize with friends.  He loved all sporting events, cherished relationships, and weekly Friday night dinners out.  Back in the '70s, you would find Jimmy and volunteers readying Little League and Pony League baseball fields for opening day and coaching the infamous Waterlilies Girls softball team.  Jimmy will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and youth players he coached.

He is survived by his son, Jay Williams and wife Paige, daughters Merryn and Olivia, and son James III; and daughter, Janet Morrison and husband Rick, and their daughters Lindsey Chitwood (husband Will and son Hayes) and Lauren Slough; and his special friend of the past nine years, Edith Dodd.

Visitation will be at Foster Funeral Home, Friday, May 16th from 5-7pm (Foster Funeral Home, 1926 High Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704). A private funeral service celebrating Jimmy's life will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the James L. "Jimmy" Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund, Portsmouth Sports Club Foundation, P.O. Box 237, Portsmouth, VA 23705. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.