Former judge, DA Williamson remembered

Edward A. Williamson, a former circuit judge and district attorney, was remembered as “a good man” of “great passion” with a competitive spirit.

Williamson, known simply as “Big” to his family, passed away at his home on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. Services were held Thursday at The First United Methodist Church.

Friend and attorney Dan Mars said he has known Williamson for 40 years. Mars described Williamson as a “good friend” and said he looked up to him as a trial lawyer.

“I learned a lot from him,” Mars said. “He was wonderful. He was a great trial lawyer. He always fought so hard for his clients and that is what made him a great lawyer.”

Ricky Deweese, Williamson’s long-time doubles partner in tennis, said simply, “He was a card.”

Mars said he admired how Williamson would put his clients first when they had had their “life turned upside down.”

Williamson approached everything he did in life with passion, according to Mars. Deweese said Williamson was known as a “very competitive” tennis player and that his competitive spirit made Deweese’s tennis game better.

“Some of my most memorable memories are from playing tennis with him,” Deweese said. “We had a lot of fun and he was very competitive and took the game seriously. He had been sick for some time and I have missed playing tennis with him.”

Another passion of Williamson’s was riding horses. Mars said he and Williamson and others would ride horses together and during their rides Williamson would indulge in another one of his passions, singing.

“He thought of himself as a great singer of country music,” Mars said with a chuckle. “We love ole Ed and I miss him.”

Deweese said his longtime friend “believed in helping folks” and was a University of Southern Mississippi fan “through and through.”

“Mr. Williamson lived a life of service to others,” his family said.

He enlisted in the US Army in 1968. Following his military service, he enrolled at USM where he studied history and criminal justice. Williamson then entered law school at the University of Memphis. 

He first established his private practice in 1976, before. He was elected District Attorney in the 8th District here in 1977.

He was appointed Circuit Judge by Gov. Bill Allain in July 1987 and served until 1991. Williamson then returned to private practice.

“He judged righteously and pleaded the court of the poor and the needy,” his family said. 

“Although Mr. Williamson served his community and country with honor, he served his family with fervor.”