VALLEY — Joe Bennett “Billy” Williams was born on June 14, 1942 in LaFayette, Ala., and passed away on Monday, March 5, 2018. Mr. Williams was a resident of Valley.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patricia; a daughter, Casaundra Bennett; a son, Joe, Jr. (Angie); two grandsons, Scott Miller and Joe  “Joey” III; a granddaughter, Jessica Elliott (Sam); and great-grandchildren Hadalyn and Hayden Elliott. He is also survived by his sisters, Jerry Coggins and Judy Benninger (David), and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home, 3700 20th Avenue, Valley, Alabama, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST on Friday, March 9, 2018.   A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at 10 a.m. EST at Hillcrest Cemetery in Lanett.

Mr. Williams grew up in Lanett. He was the son of William Bennett Williams, Jr. and Leila Cynthia (DeLoach) Williams.  In August 1959, he married Patricia Still.  Mr. Williams went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Athens College in Athens, Ala. He began his career with Chrysler Corporation in Huntsville, Ala.  In 1968, the family moved to Burlington, Vermont, where he was employed as a financial analyst with IBM.  In 1992, he retired from his position with IBM in Rochester, Minn., having served at several locations around the country and abroad.

Mr. Williams will always be remembered for his unfailing devotion to his family, and for his unparalleled generosity to anyone or any creature in need. Known especially for his love of nature and animals, he generously contributed to various conservation and animal welfare and rescue efforts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Faith Temple Family Worship Center, P.O. Box 1431, Lanett, Alabama 36863, or to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue <www.bwar.org>, 31 Glendale Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina 28803.

Please visit www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to sign the online guestbook.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley is directing.