Teresa Williams
THOMASVILLE — He was a man who gave more than he took, who cared about others and who believed in Christ.
This is how family and friends described local philanthropist Thomas “Tommy” Lyle Williams III, who died Friday after a long battle with liver cancer.
“He had a big heart and was always concerned about people,” long-time friend Biff Hobbs said. “He wanted to make this community a better place to live and to play. We are all blessed in having him as a friend and member of our community.”
A family representative said Williams’s legacy is his giving spirit, his leadership example and his walking with Christ.
Williams, 53, lived out his passion for Christ, youth and conservation by not only supporting his interests financially, but also through giving of his time and leadership, according to his obituary.
He was appointed to the first Thomas County/Thomasville Recreation Advisory Board in 1993 and was also instrumental in the development of the Remington Avenue Recreational Complex.
“Young people, especially, were his passion and he saw recreation as a means to help improve their lives,” Hobbs said. “He was a man of vision and his vision was to make sure all kids had the opportunity to participate. He was also a big part of the Remington Avenue complex expansion. It is one of the best anywhere and has provided hours of enjoyment and memories.”
Family friend and Mayor Pro Tem Camille Payne said Williams was always interested in Thomasville and its youths, and worked quietly to help point them in the right direction.
But, he was never on time, according to Hobbs.
“I always kidded him about having to be on ‘Tommy Time’ because he did not need a watch and was never on time for anything. I used to tell him ‘Tommy Time’ is always 15 minutes after the event starts.”
Williams dedicated his early life to supporting conservation efforts in the United States, was a tireless volunteer leader for Ducks Unlimited and senior vice president of its board of directors, and won the Chip Allen Conservationist of the Year award.
Friend Monty Lewis, senior vice-president of the Ducks Unlimited board, knew Williams for 30 years.
Lewis thinks his friend believed, since he was fortunate to have resources to acquire land, it was his responsibility to be a good steward of that land, to improve it and do what was necessary to make sure it was maintained for future generations.
“He wanted to be sure others had the opportunity to enjoy the bounty of wildlife so he always put more back than he took. He was a giver rather than a taker.”
Lewis said Williams was famous for a community duck hunt he held every Saturday during duck season for about 25 years. It featured family, friends and guests, and included hunting at his duck pond and a big breakfast.
Williams dedicated the latter part of his life to serving Christ. He was a member of First Baptist Church and founded InsideOut Music Fest in Thomas County and One Heartbeat Ministries.
“Every time I saw him he encouraged me,” Rev. Dan Spencer said. “He was the kind of guy who would come to the church office just to encourage everyone. I can picture him when I would preach: he always sat leaning forward like he was really interested. I would tease him that if he was not really interested in what I was saying, please don’t tell me.
“We have a Wednesday night youth service he attended. He was kind of like a big teenager and I think he preferred to be in that service than with any other group.”
Spencer said, at the latest annual Men’s Wild Game Dinner, Williams volunteered to help.
“He seldom felt good and no one would have slighted him if he’d found a chair, but we needed a greeter and he stood there and opened the door. To see a guy who had so much influence and was looked up to in the community be a doorman was a good sight. It showed the kind of heart he had.”
Hobbs said, in the last seven years of his friend’s life, Williams made a commitment to God and impacted many people.
“It was amazing to see the transformation in his life when he came to Christ. His mission was to bring glory to the Lord, to share the gospel and to see others come to Christ. Even in those last days, one of his desires was to share what the Lord was doing in his life. He finished strong.”
