Larry Bruce Williams, an easygoing, caring, generous, and fun-loving man with a friendly personality and magnetic departed this life Friday, November 19, 2021, at his home with his wife, Harriet, by his bedside following a long, debilitating illness. Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at 1:00 P.M. in the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Sandersville with Reverend Cecil Moore officiating. Interment was be in the church cemetery.
Larry was born on May 9, 1950, in Sandersville, Georgia to the parentage of the late Dr. Elmus W. Williams and Lois D. Haynes Williams. He was the second of four children born to this union. At an early age, he joined the Oak Grove Baptist Church. Mr. Williams was educated in the Washington County School System. He played on the high school basketball team and was a member of the marching band playing tenor saxophone. Larry graduated from T.J. Elder High School in 1968 and furthered his education by attending Fort Valley State College (University,) where he graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. He moved to Atlanta after graduating college and soon obtained employment with Kmart. On March 31, 1978, Larry married Harriet A. Rolling and to their union was born a precious daughter, Briana Caron. Mr. Smith soon obtained employment with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and worked for twenty-two years before his retirement. Following his work MARTA, he dabbled in other jobs with transportation services. Mr. Smith was a lover of sports. Watching college and professional basketball and football games on television was one of his favorite pastimes. He would often engage in a game of basketball with friends on his home court. Larry loved spending time with his high school classmates and never missed an opportunity to attend a class gathering, especially the Elderite Reunions. Until his health began to fail, he and his friends from college would attend homecoming each year. They became known as the “Purple Gang.” Mr. Smith’s friends referred to him as “Bruce.” They will remember him was a gentle giant with a big heart. Larry was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Ann Gibbs.
He leaves to cherish his memories, a devoted wife, Harriet A. Williams; daughter, Briana Nelson (Tony) of Union City; two sisters, Gwendolyn M. White and Elmira Rochelle of Sandersville; five sisters-in-law, Cynthia V. Andrews of Sandersville, Tommie B. Merritt (William) of East Point, Barbara B. Harris of Decatur, Sandra Braswell of Conyers, and Delores Bloodsaw-Nelson (Zachary) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a brother-in-law, Darryl D. Fort (Diane) of McDonough; three grandchildren, Jaden, Jordyn and Jahkerria; three great-grandchildren; an aunt, Gennie Mae Haynes, of Sandersville; an uncle, Vernon Williams of Augusta; devoted cousin, Mr. James W. Adams; long-time friend, Mr. Thomas Wilcher; and an abundance of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
L.M. Pierce Funeral Home.