Rev. John 'J.D.' Daniel Williams

John Daniel “J.D.” Williams, son of the late Leonard “Chick” and Flora Mae (Wilson) Williams, was born on July 2, 1931 in Buckhart, Missouri, and departed this life on April 1, 2012 in the Assisted Living Country Living Facility in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, where he had resided for the past several months. He was 80 years, 8 months, and 30 days of age.
J.D. grew up and attended school in the Vanzant area. He was united in marriage to Velma Gail Smith on October 21, 1947 in Hardy, Arkansas. Two children were born to this union, Jay R. and Angelia.
J.D. was a farmer, a logger most all his life, and a minister. He was also an accomplished carpenter. J.D. worked some during the apple and pea harvest in Washington.
He was saved and baptized at a young age and his passion in life was his ministry for the Lord. He loved the Lord and found every opportunity to share the gospel with others. He ministered for forty-four years, pastoring many churches and holding countless revivals in Douglas, Ozark and Wright Counties. He greatly enjoyed his music ministry, playing the guitar, and singing with his wife, Velma.
He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and gardening.
J.D. was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, minister, friend and neighbor. He loved his family very much and will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson: Ryan Martin; a brother-in-law: James Wheat; and by a sister-in-law: Eunice Wheat.
J.D. is survived by his wife of sixty-five years: Velma Williams of their home; his daughter: Angelia Martin and her husband, Richard, of Dora, Missouri; his son: Jay R. Williams of Vanzant, Missouri; six grandchildren: Greg Martin and his wife, Pepper, Cassidy Martin and his wife, Andrea, all of Dora, Missouri, Montana Williams of Phoenix, Arizona, Chelsea Williams, Sydnie Williams and Macey Williams, all of Vanzant, Missouri; six great-grandchildren: Tyler, Dalton, Gavin, Callie, Jacob, and Isabelle; four brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Earl and Kathy Smith, Ross and Jenita Fish, Don and Ann Smith, and Lee and Juanita Easter, all of Vanzant, Missouri; several nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives, neighbors and friends.


Funeral Service: Friday,

April 6, 2012 at 2:00 PM

in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.

Visitation: Thursday,

April 5, 2012 from
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the funeral home.

Burial: Vanzant Cemetery

Memorial Contributions: Vanzant Cemetery

or Gideons c/o the funeral home.