George Washington Williams of Charlotte passed away after a long illness of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) on Saturday morning, January 30, 2010, at the Levine-Dickson Hospice House and Palliative Care in Huntersville. His family was by his side.
George was born June 4, 1937, in Magee, Miss., to I.J. Williams and Ella Lofton Williams-Walker, who preceded him in death, as well as siblings James Williams, Marshall Williams, I.J. Williams Jr. and two sisters Mae Williams and Jane Williams.
He leaves behind many loved ones to cherish his memories, including his wife of 36 years, Marie, and son, Ivan. He is also survived by his brothers Ray (Rosa) Williams of Chicago; Timothy (Gilda) Walker of Chicago; and his sisters Lillie R. Gardner of Chicago; Hazel Clinkscales of Chicago; and Vernie R. Burton of Magee. One brother-in-law, Eugene Horton of Mooresville, NC; sisters-on-laws Georgia Williams of Oakland, Miss; Alice Williams of Memphis, TN; Berniece and Shirley Horton of Washington, DC; Shirley Horton, Roseanne Horton and Denise Horton of Lenoir, NC; Addie Horton of Morganton, NC and Sherry Horton of Mooresville, NC. Godsons Damian Peters and Phifer Turner of Charlotte. A host of nephews, nieces and cousins also mourn his passing.
An Air Force veteran, George moved to Charlotte in 1097 following completion of studies at New York Institute of Photography. He became a WSOC-TC news photographer. After a few years with the station, George became an instructor at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Youth Council program.
George was hired by WBTV-3, the Carolina’s leading television station, in 1975 and became that station’s first fulltime African American photographer. George was an exemplary employee at the station and handled photographic duties that made him one of the very best. An award winning cameraman, George won numerous awards for his photojournalism. One of the most notable was for photographic essay he created on Martin Luther King Jr. presented by the Black Journalist Media.
George’s most treasured assignments during his employment at WBTV-3 was his time spent traveling the Carolinas as photographer for WBTV-3’s “Carolina Camera”, one of the most popular features in the station’s long and storied history.
Among the many historic moments captured by George’s camera was the announcement of the NFL Panthers being awarded a franchise. Team founder and owner Jerry Richardson looked directly into George’s lens and enthusiastically expressed his appreciation for the Carolinas’ support by saving words now famous in Panthers’ history, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
George was also a founding partner and co-owner of Green Touch Tree and Turf Landscaping Company from 1990-1997. He was a faithful member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and volunteered with several ministries until his illness.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice Palliative Care of Charlotte, Interim Health Services of Charlotte or the Leon C. Riddick Scholarship fund at Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
Final rites will be Thursday at noon at Charlotte’s Mt. Carmel Baptist Church with a viewing preceding at 11 AM. He will be interred at the church.
The family would like to thank all the Hospice Palliative Care and Interim Health Care personnel for the excellent care that was given in his time of need, especially “T.”
Alexander Funeral Home is serving the family.
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