A funeral service for Billy Woodrow Williams, 82, of Marshall, Texas will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Yates Memorial Cemetery in Scottsville, Texas. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the funeral home.

Bill was born in Dallas at Baylor hospital on June 6, 1941, to Wilbur Woodrow Williams and Francis Rebecca Wright Williams and passed away on December 8, 2023, in Marshall, Texas.

He graduated from Pleasant Plains High school in Pleasant Plains, Arkansas 1957. He studied Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University and Abilene Christian University. He married his wife, Hazel, in Dallas during September of 1961. In 1964, he joined the Dallas Police Department where he served in the patrol section for 27 years. He also trained many rookies for DPD, including Jerry Rhodes and Sherry Golden. He retired as a Senior Corporal / Field Training Officer in June of 1991. After retirement, he became a full-time resident of Marshall, TX. He enjoyed working on the historic home that he and Hazel purchased in late 1984 and maintained a large garden on the property.

In the late 70's, an elder friend introduced Bill to collecting Carnival glass which led to his hobby of antique collecting. After retirement, Bill and Hazel stepped into the antique business full time in the early 90s when they began running a booth at a local mall and later renting a building. At the advice of a friend and local business mentor, James Goolsby, they bought their current building in 2008, which is nestled in downtown Jefferson, TX. This laid the foundation to grow his other beloved business of pocketknives. With the help and guidance of Case representative and friend, Nick Clancy, Bill became a platinum dealer for W.R. Case pocketknives and spent the last 20 years selling thousands of knives.

During this time, he enjoyed accompanying his friend, Mike Norrell, on trips across the country to bring loved one's home to Downs Funeral Home. Bill loved all the animals that have called his Marshall residence home. He loved chicken livers from Granny's Fried Chicken in Seagoville, TX, and never met a Bubba Burger he didn't like.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilber Woodrow and Frances Rebecca Wright Williams; older sister, Mary Stephens; great grandson, Gabriel Williams and best friend, Mike Norrell.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel Etta Williams; son, Michael Williams and wife, Alma; sister, Linda Youngblood; brother, Bobby Williams; grandchildren, Andrew Williams and wife, Britney, Anthony Williams and wife, Alexis and Mackenzie Williams and Joseph Adams and great grandchildren, Conner, Dylan, Emma, Gavin, Evelyn, Wade and Samuel along with numerous other family and friends.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the Marshall Manor Nurses, Julia, Linda, Tina, Anzetta, Teuquilla, Jason, Destiny, Miko and so many more; Marshall Hospice of East Texas nurses, Shelby, April and Leslie; Dr. Stephen Crayton and staff of Marshall along with so many other angels that have been a part of Bill's journey and to our adopted family and friends at Café Italia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to The Assist the Officer Foundation of Dallas Police Department, An Animal rescue of your choosing or to the Alzheimer's Association.