Ray Anthony Williams, of Jackson, formerly of Brookhaven, died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Westhaven Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

He was born June 5, 1952, to the late L.C. Williams and Eloise Thompson Williams. Mr. Williams grew up in Brookhaven and later in life moved to Jackson. He graduated from Alexander High School in 1970. He joined the U.S. Navy on Dec. 18, 1970, and retired after 22 years of service in December 1992. After retirement form the U.S. Navy, he worked with the Jackson Police Department and retired after 10 years. He decided that retirement was not for him, so he started as a security guard for Wackenhut Security. He finally decided to retire in June 2014.

Preceding him in death were his parents, and a brother, Ronnie Coleman.

Survivors include his wife, Katie Vaughn Williams, of Jackson; three sons, Terence (Wanda) Williams, Stephen (Stacey) Williams and Zavien Williams, of Jackson; two stepsons, Freddie McField and Kirk McField, of Jackson; two daughters, Valerie Smith Williams and Vanessa Smith Bauswell, of Flint, Michigan, and one stepdaughter, Tamika (Gary) Sims of Ft. Worth, Texas; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Charles Thompson of Vicksburg, and Kenneth (Patricia) Williams of Jacksonville, Florida; four sisters, Patricia Butler of Gastonia, North Carolina, Linda Williams and Phyllis Williams of Jackson and Catherine Sterling of Hattiesburg; two aunts, Edith Williams and Jurlean Dean of Chicago, Illinois; a dear and devoted friend, Clyde Kirk of Magee, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.