James Arthur Williams, 93, of Portsmouth, died Monday, June 16, 2025, at Hillview Retirement Center. He was born April 2, 1932, in Lucasville, to the late Hobert Williams and Mabel Ferguson Williams.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters: Thelma “Timmy” Jarrells, Wilma Finch, Myrtle Brown, and Virginia Gallimore, and brothers, Carl Williams and his twin, John, who died at birth.
Jim was a Navy veteran of the Korean War, receiving the Navy Commendation Medal for saving the life of a drowning Japanese citizen. He was a history teacher at Portsmouth West High School and later, principal of Nauvoo Elementary and Middle School. He left education for real estate, becoming first an agent and then opening his own brokerage.
He was a member of Rehoboth Mission Church and later Temple Baptist Church. Jim loved to sing. He had a heart full of songs and a gift for singing them. He sang in both churches and in the Temple Baptist Choir. He taught himself to play guitar in the 1960s, singing and playing country western songs in venues around the greater Portsmouth area. He eventually produced an album of the songs he performed.
Jim was a good writer, producing an autobiography and many poems. He had a mind full of poems and a gift for writing them. He especially liked writing poems for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for their birthdays. Each poem was written especially for and about that particular child’s special character and the love he had for them. These are especially treasured by his family members.
Jim is survived by his wife of 71 years, Joyce Smith Williams, whom he married on December 20, 1953; two sons, James D. (Althea)Williams and Michael A. Williams; two daughters, Debra (John) Payne and Lisa Mathisen; a sister, Ruby Stout; four grandchildren, Joshua Williams, Jared (Jaimee) Williams, Nathan Williams, and Nicholas Payne; and three great-grandchildren: Makenna Williams, Hayley Williams, and Reagan Williams.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth with Pastor John Gowdy officiating. Interment will be in Scioto Burial Park with graveside military rites by the James Dickey Post 23 American Legion. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Condolences may be sent to www.rogerwdavisfuneralhome.com