A lifelong Sykes Community resident and retired farmer, Mr. James Wendell Williams, died Sunday afternoon August 4, 2024 at 1:08 p.m. at his Sykes Road farm home surrounded by his family. He was pronounced deceased at 2:30 p.m.by Gentiva Hospice of Livingston. Mr. Williams was 83.

Mr. Williams is at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home where his funeral services are scheduled to be conducted Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. Bro. Dennis Croslin and Eld. Chris White will officiate. Mr. Williams grandson, Jamie Sircy will deliver the closing remarks and prayer. Interment will be beside the mother of his children in the Williams plot at the Baird Memorial Cemetery in the Hickman Community.

The Williams family will receive friends at Sanderson in Carthage beginning at 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday and again on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the 1 p.m. services.

Born September 7, 1940 in the Sykes Community, he was the only child of the late Jim Williams who died February 26, 1988 at the age of 87 and Delia Elizabeth Agee Williams who died August 29, 1978 at the age of 76.

Mr. Williams was a member of the 1958 graduating class at Gordonsville High School.

On June 3, 1961 he was married to Roberta Harris by Eld. Charles Allen Gentry and this was the first wedding he ever conducted. She preceded him in death on September 25, 2003 at the age of 62 after suffering a fatal heart attack at their Sykes Road home.

To this union was born two daughters, Cathy and Brenda and a son Jimmy Wayne Williams who died at birth on June 1, 1964.

He was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Corey Ray Gammons who died October 16, 2022 at the age of 50.

In Fentress County on November 24, 2004, he was united in marriage to Fentress County native, the former Edith Jean Slaven.

Mr. Williams was a former milk truck worker who hauled milk to the Borden’s plant in Carthage and formerly worked at the Smith County Farmers Cooperative. Another job he enjoyed was Servamation which supplied vending machines in factories.

He was a truck delivery driver for Preferred Foliage Company in the Sykes Community, and was this job that enabled him to meet Mrs. Edith while delivering plants in Jamestown.

He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in October of 2010.

Mr. Williams was a member of the Hickman Baptist Church and attended the Caney Fork Missionary Baptist Church in the Helms Bend Community.

Surviving in addition to his wife Edith of almost twenty years are his two daughters, Cathy Gammons of the Sykes Community and Brenda Williams Jones and husband Paul of Red Boiling Springs; two step daughters, Shelia Darrow and husband Ronnie of Knoxville, Elizabeth Hall and husband Jody of Manchester; four grandchildren, Amanda Sircy of the Sykes Community, Jamie Sircy and wife Anna Winfree Sircy of Gordonsville, Jonathan Jones and Katlyn Jones both of Red Boiling Springs; five great-grandchildren, Cataie Belle Sircy, Silas Sircy, Sheadyn Sircy, Abigail Sircy and Carmen Jo Sircy; four step- grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.

SANDERSON of CARTHAGE

Active Pallbearers: Randy Glover, Thad & Clete Underwood, Mackey Fields, Jerry Agee, & Chris White

Honorary Pallbearers: Jonathan Jones, Silas Sircy, Sheadyn Sircy, Robert Baliff, Roger Lee & Wayne Harris