S. A. Williams, Jr.

S. A. Williamson, Jr. of Flora, known by many as SAW, passed away at his home on September 4, 2024, at the age of 94. S. A. was born December 5, 1929, in Newton County, Mississippi, the son of Selma and Jewel Williamson. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Dot Matlock Williamson, children, Danny Williamson (Joni), Kim Potter (Tim), Craig Williamson (Cindy) and Sharon Smith. He had six grandchildren, Ashley Outzen (Bart), Kelli Williamson, Jamie Talley (Adam), Bill Potter (Caitlin), Madeline Potter and Olivia Potter. He also had five great grandchildren, Barton and Caroline Outzen, Owen and Eli Talley and Dustin Potter. He is also survived by one niece, Caroline Raybon, and three nephews, Joey Beasley and Keith and Paul Gunter. He is predeceased by his parents and three sisters, Jean, Ruby Faye and Patricia.

S.A. was a hard worker all his life and was determined to excel in whatever he set out to do. At the age of 6, his picture was published in the local newspaper for picking an entire bale of cotton by himself! He attended Beulah Hubbard School, graduating in 1949. Afterward, he enlisted in the United States Navy. His training took him to San Diego, CA, where he completed basic training before being assigned as a storekeeper aboard the heavy cruiser, USS Quincy, during the Korean War. His 4-year Naval duties would take him all over the world, from ports around the Mediterranean Sea, to Pearl Harbor, Kwajalein Island, The Pacific Northwest, and the Panama Canal. After fulfilling his 4-year commitment to Uncle Sam, he married Dot Matlock and they moved to Decatur, MS where he enrolled at East Central Community College. From there, he continued his education at Mississippi State University, graduating in 1957 with a degree in industrial engineering. In June of 1957, he moved his young family to St. Louis, MO, where he began his career with McDonnell Douglas Aircraft. Four years later, he moved his growing family back to Mississippi where he began his new career in the insurance industry with Greater Mississippi Life Insurance Company. Over the years, his career would take the family to Meridian, Cleveland, Tupelo, Aberdeen and Vicksburg, before making the decision to go into the retail business. In 1974, he and Dot moved the family to Flora where the two of them opened a Western Auto store. With the help of their younger son, Craig, they ran this store until 1985 when they opened an Ace Hardware store, also in Flora. Many friends were made and tall tales swapped throughout the years from this vantage point on Main Street.

After retiring, S. A. began gardening in earnest. Having grown up farming and gardening, he and Dot worked together to produce a bumper crop of fruits and vegetables every year, not only for their family but also for others in the neighborhood.

S. A.’s love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was evident throughout his life. He could be found sitting at the kitchen table studying the Word, always the King James Version. He and Dot raised their children in church from young ages. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to Arden Hospice and Covenant Caregivers, specifically Caroline Young, John Anderson and Tammy Luckett, for their invaluable and unwavering love and support over the last nine months.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Flora building fund.