Dwight E. Williams

Dwight Ellis Williams, age 87, of Blytheville, passed from this life Monday, August 17, 2015 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born to Ellis and Myrtle Williams in Beach Grove, Arkansas he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Blytheville. Dwight went on to become a successful Coach, Teacher, Principle and Administrator. He enjoyed his family immensely and shared many good times and years of happiness. "Coach" Williams was an individual whose life touched and taught many young people. He possessed a very special talent and ability to pass on his knowledge of baseball and basketball to others. However, it didn't stop there, he also had the ability to measure and see the potential in each young man's life that he coached. As a Beach Grove High School player, he played Baseball and Basketball. In baseball he was the Home run and RBI leader as their teams won the county tournaments all four year and he made all district in both Baseball and Basketball. He also played semi-pro. Beach Grove had the best Semi Pro team in North East Arkansas for the 10 years he played, winning the 1950 and 1951 Missouri State Championship and State Championship at Rector. He played minor league ball in 1949 and 1950 for the farm teams owned by the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians. As a player in 1946 at A.S.U., he learned the one handed jump shot playing against DePaul and this would go forward with him for many years. His years of coaching consisted of Beach Grove, Greene County Tech, Blytheville High School, American Legion Baseball and Blytheville Cason American Legion Baseball. Also other than his baseball career, he served as a Newport Arkansas High School Principal, Kennett, Missouri Principal, Hayti, Missouri Principal and superintendent of McCrory, Arkansas. On July 22, 1979, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Dwight was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Grace Marie Taylor Williams, the mother of Dwight's six children and a brother, Nolan Williams. He is survived by his wife, Tate Guard Williams of the home; children, Danny Williams (Barbara) of Gosnell, Stan Williams (Carol) of Maumelle, Arkansas, Alex Williams (Karen) of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mark Williams of Gosnell, Jan Monday (David) of Newport, Arkansas, and Lana Hughes (Johnny Hughes) of Blytheville; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Blytheville with Dr. Robin Moore officiating. The family will receive friends from 12 noon until service time. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Blytheville. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.