Joseph Thomas "JT" Williams, Jr.

Joseph Thomas “J T” Williams, Jr., age 90, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Georgia. J T was born on July 3, 1933, in Tallahassee, Florida to the late J T and Ruby Mae Williams.

He is preceded in death by his parents, J T and Ruby Mae Williams, his sister, Jewell Menge and one grandson, Joseph Williams, IV. J T is survived by his 3 sons, Joe (Cyndi) Williams, David (Beverly) Williams, Bert (Kristi) Williams; 11 grandchildren: Amanda (Eric) Schultz, Rebecca (Graham) Brooks, Travis (Jenny) Williams, Kinsey Williams, Kelli (Jim) Pritchett, Arlyn (Cameron) Lewis, Grace (Trevor) Comeaux, Jay (Carly) Williams, Todd Williams, Brianne (Austin) Zeltwanger, and Mason Williams, and 12 great grandchildren; Joseph, Jonathan, Mabry, Rowen, Ruby, Abigail, Arley, Hayden, Cameron, Charles, Addelyn, and Katherine.

J T grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University (1955). He married Peggy King, and they raised their three boys. He proudly served as a 1 st Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force from 1956-1959. He then went to New York City where he worked as a CPA with Price Waterhouse before returning to Tallahassee and starting his own CPA firm. In 1964 he began following his real passion of developing real estate. He started Killearn Properties, which was listed on the AMEX in 1971. Some of the communities he developed are Killearn Estates and Killearn Lakes in Tallahassee, Florida, Eagle’s Landing in Stockbridge, Georgia and Waterfall at Lake Burton in Rabun County, Georgia. Today more than 15,000 families call these communities home. J T learned from his mother and father, who served as Mayor of Tallahassee in 1955 and 1956, the importance of serving his community. He dedicated much of his life to service. For many years he chaired the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Florida, was chairman of the Billy Graham crusade in Tallahassee, helped to establish and actively participated for nearly 50 years in the Bill Glass Prison Ministry, and actively served in many areas at Immanuel Baptist, Celebration Baptist and Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church. Also, he was appointed by several Governors in both Florida and Georgia to serve on many boards, including the Florida Land Sales and Condominium Board, Georgia Board of Education, and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church, located at 2400 Hwy 42 North, McDonough, GA. The family will receive friends at 2pm followed by the service at 3pm.

Those wishing to leave condolences may do so at hillsidechapelfuneralhome.com

Hillside Chapel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1190 McEver Rd. Gainesville, GA 30504, is in charge of the arrangements.