Thursday
April 25th, 2024
10:08AM
James Hallfred (Hoy) Williams, 101, of Cumming, GA died on August 13, 2016. Born in Atlanta, GA he was the son of the late James and Maggie Williams.
Living in the West End, he attended Boy’s High before transferring to the Darlington School his sophomore year. Following high school, Hoy began his college education at the University of Alabama before transferring to Georgia Tech. During college, he pursued what turned out to be one of his life’s great loves by playing in dance bands during the Big Band era.
World War II interrupted his plans when he was assigned to the Army 100th Division – the Century Division. Having played saxophone during his college years, Hoy was assigned to the headquarters company in the division band. Two months following D-Day, the 100th was part of a little remembered second invasion of the South of France called “Operation Dragoon”. Due to heavy casualties fighting their way up from the south of France to meet the D-Day armies coming from the west, the band was disbanded and Hoy was sent to the front lines to fight in the Battle of the Bulge.
Surviving the war he returned to Atlanta where he married his wife, June Campbell, for 55 years. Capitalizing on his education from Georgia Tech, he opened his own company, H & J Williams and Associates, Inc., producing and selling corrosive resistant fiberglass products to industries across the South.
During the 60’s, Hoy was part of a group of professional businessmen who formed a Big Band dance band called the “Sorta Forty” playing events all over Atlanta and the South. All of the money the band made was donated to the Atlanta Orphanage. The Sorta Forty was one of Hoy’s greatest joys producing friendships that remained for the rest of his life.
His other great joy was Georgia Tech football, holding season tickets for 60 years and he also had season tickets for the Falcons. Hoy’s hobby was Lionel Trains. He was an active member to Cumming First United Methodist Church
In 2002, his wife June died. He married his current wife, Anne R. Tillitt in 2003. Hoy lived on Lake Lanier from 1982 until his death. In addition to his wife Anne, Hoy is survived by his son, Jay, daughter-in-law, Mary Lou and grandsons, Jeff, Zach and Nate.
His memorial service will be held at Cumming First United Methodist Church on Friday, August 19 at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made the Food Pantry at Cumming First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 606, Cumming, GA 30028.
Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.
Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899
