Joe Willie Williams' Obituary
Decatur - Joe Willie Williams, 72, of Decatur died on Thursday, April 4 at Decatur Memorial Hospital. He was a husband of 52 years, a father, a “Paw-Paw,” a brother, uncle, and friend to many.
The son of Clara Williams and Henry Cain, Joe was born in Forrest City, Arkansas on April 26, 1951 (If you were to ask him, he’d say he’s from Chicago). The family later moved to Springfield, Illinois when he was only a year old.
Joe’s time as a self-proclaimed “juvenile delinquent” led him to boxing. He fought in the Golden Gloves for six years, advancing to national competitions for three years in a row. He took on future world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks in 1968 and won after a three-round decision.
While Joe had a chance to go pro with boxing, he turned it down to enlist in the United States Air Force instead. He met Evelyn Allen at the Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul in June 1971. They were married nearly a year later on April 8, 1972, and raised their three children in Springfield before moving to Decatur.
Joe dedicated his post-military career to law enforcement. He worked as a sergeant for the Springfield Housing Authority and the Springfield Lake Police before joining the Illinois Secretary of State Police as an Investigator. He stayed with the Secretary of State Police for over 25 years.
After he retired, he spent his days doing his favorite things: spending ample time with family and friends, watching his “cowboy movies,” playing cards, fishing, and having long, vibrant phone conversations. Joe usually ended these calls by saying “I’ll let you go,” but they often went on another 20 minutes after that because he loved staying connected with the people he cared about.
Joe was preceded in death by his mother and father, Clara Williams and Henry Cain; his maternal grandmother Rosie Williams; his brothers Clarence and Isaiah “Ike” Williams; his aunt Lula Lewis; his uncle Charles “Sonny Boy” Williams; and his brother-in-law Isaiah Tyrone (“Big T,” “Whamma Jamma”) Dickerson.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Williams. He is also survived by his children, Amie Slater (Tracy), Amanda Williams (Scott), James Williams, and Tera Davis of Chicago; his brothers, John Williams (Jean) of Springfield, Larry Smith, and Henry Cain Jr. (Tonya) of Indianapolis; his sisters, Dorothy Williams and Flora Dickerson of Springfield, Gloria Kane Smith of Germany, and Grace Cain of Indianapolis; his sisters-in-law, Mary Nell McLemore of Bloomington, Jan “Skinny Mini” Williams, and Betty Banks of Jackson, TN; his grandchildren, Tynisha Slater, Lakia Gray, Katelen Hegger, Jaylyn Cook (and his fiancée Nicole), Amiyah Slater, Cassius Williams (and his fiancée Madi), Tracy Slater, Jr., Lyric Williams, and De’Abrion Joyner of St. Louis; six great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.
The family wishes to thank everyone who reached out to share condolences and memories of Joe–as well as his physicians in Decatur and Springfield, and his nurse Shelly, for their care over the years.
Funeral service will be 11am Friday, April 19, 2024, at Moran & Goebel Funeral Home; visitation will be one hour before in the funeral home. Burial with military rites will follow in Graceland Cemetery.
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