Roy Williams Obituary

WAYNESVILLE- On January 15, 2025, Roy Godwin Williams at 86 departed this Earth to join his Beloved wife Julia who left one week prior. They were reunited and joined their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Roy was born on November 30, 1938 in Greensboro to the late Fred M. Williams and Mabel Godwin Williams. Roy was an athletic young man who attended Curry High School, lettering in basketball, football and swimming. After high school, he attended Guilford College where he graduated with a BA in Education. Upon his graduation, Roy became an assistant coach with the Guilford College men's basketball team. Alongside head coach Jerry Steele, Roy helped build the men's basketball program at the college. In 1969, Roy graduated with a PhD in Education from Duke University. During his time at Duke, he worked as a graduate assistant on the basketball sta
After leaving academia, Roy continued his career as a stockbroker with Reynolds Securities, which became Dean Witter Reynolds. On July 20, 1973, Roy married the love of his life, Julia Ellen Floyd, who he a ectionately referred to as "Boots". After they married, Roy quickly moved up the corporate ladder and took over the o ce in Raleigh, NC. After several years, he was recruited by Merrill Lynch and was moved to Tallahassee, FL to run their o ce there. After much success in Tallahassee, he was promoted to head the Nashville, TN o ce. He remained in the Nashville o ce until his retirement from Merrill Lynch as a Senior Resident Vice President.
Roy was a biblical scholar and perpetual student. He loved to study history as well as innovative styles of political and corporate management. During his time in Nashville, TN, Roy attended Belmont University where he received a BA in Religion, learning to read the Bible in the original Greek and Hebrew. He also attended Vanderbilt University, receiving a doctorate in Education.
After graduation from Vanderbilt, Roy became an adjunct professor of leadership at Vanderbilt's Peabody College where he continued to share his experience and knowledge. While there, he received one of Peabody's Outstanding Educator Awards for Teaching. He also co-authored a book with fellow professor Terrence E. Deal. The book, "When Opposites Dance", presents a new perspective on leadership and management styles.
Roy and Julia enjoyed 51 wonderful years together. When he permanently retired, they moved to the NC mountains where they built the home of their dreams. They lived there for over 20 years, enjoying time with family, friends, and their two fur babies Sonny and Shadow.
In addition to his mother and father, Roy was pre-deceased by his brother (Rodney Earl Williams of Myrtle Beach, SC), his brothers-in-law (William Edward Floyd Jr. and Hillman Floyd of Henderson), his sister-in-law (Jane Thaxton of Wilson and husband Bob), his cousin-in-law (Marina Nowell of Winston Salem) and his niece (Ellen Hardy of Oxford).
Roy is survived by his cousin-in-law Kathryn Hawkins Edwards of Danville, VA, his sister-in-law Francis Floyd of Henderson, along with several nieces, nephews and their families.
A joint memorial service for Roy and Julia will take place at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at: Plank Chapel, 3047 Bobbitt Road, Kittrell, NC, 27544 officiated by Rev. Edgar De Jesus. Visitation with the family will take place after the service in the fellowship hall at the church. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be live streamed on the Plank Chapel Facebook page. The service will also be recorded and placed here.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Samaritan's Purse, or Turning Point, a ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah. These were ministries that Julia and Roy supported.