Extracted from The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA)
Friday, September 5, 2008

Benton (Buddy) Williams

SHREVEPORT, LA -- ``Have I ever shown you my Pride and Joy?'' If you ever met Bud Williams, you probably heard this question just before being shown a wallet sized picture of his Pride and Joy. That sense of humor was the mark of a man who loved life and loved people.

Captain Benton ``Buddy'' Williams was born in Shreveport, Louisiana July 12, 1934 and passed peacefully Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

Buddy was a proud ``class of 1952'' graduate of Fair Park High School and prouder still to have served the Shreveport Fire Department until his retirement after twenty-five years. He was Captain of Fire Station 17 and would forever be a firefighter.

He dedicated his life not only to saving lives but also to saving souls. He served faithfully during his retirement years as a minister to those in prison, leading hundreds of inmates into a personal relationship with Christ. He was also devoted to personal evangelism every day. His greatest concern in life was that everyone he met each day would be given an opportunity to hear about salvation.

The joy of Bud's life dates back to January 17, 1953 when the young girl he had fallen in love with consented to marry him. Dixie, that beautiful blonde he bragged about, was his one true love for 55 years. As he said on many occasions, ``It's hard to believe that one woman could handle living in paradise all these years.''

Bud will truly be missed by all who loved him. He has now been welcomed into his rest by the Lord Jesus, and he has surely been greeted by his parents, Benton and Frankie Williams, who preceded him, and by his dear friend, Steve Smyrni, whom he looked so forward to seeing again.

He is survived by his faithful wife, Dixie Williams; one sister, Devereaux Handy; three children and their spouses: Becky Long and husband, Kyle of Tucson; Larry Williams and wife, Peggy of Shreveport; and Carolyn Wharton and husband, Dean of Shreveport; six grandchildren: Matt Long and wife, Holly; Kristen Howard and husband, Rick; Kim Long; Jacob Martin; Mark Williams; and Luke Wharton; eight great-grandchildren, and two more on the way.

Visitation for Mr. Williams will be held at Rose Neath Southside Friday evening, September 5 from 4:00-7:00pm. Services will be held at 10:00am Saturday, September 6, 2008 at Shreveport Community Church where Bud was proud to have been a member for over 20 years. Officiating will be Rev. Denny Duron. Also speaking will be Bud's dear friends Mike Barber, of Mike Barber Prison Ministries, and Carter Anderson. Interment will follow in Forest Park West Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Carter Anderson, Terry Hayes, Dan Adams, Sam Scott, Murrell Brown, Frank Van Alstyne, and Bryce Kinley, Bud's great-grandson. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Stroud, Terry Thompson, the Shreveport Fire Department, and the class of '52 of Fair Park High School.

There has never been anybody else like Bud Williams. He was an absolute one of a kind. We have laughed through many fond memories of Bud, but don't forget what he often requested of those closest to him, ``I want you to cry a lot at my funeral.'' Yes, he will be missed.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home
Southside Chapel 687-1256