Louis Wilburn Williams

Louis Wilburn Williams, fondly known as “Mr. Red”, had a passion for work, family, friends and his hometown of Maben. He was a proud native of Webster County and was a successful businessman, owning Maben's grocery stores – The Big Star and The Grocery Store over many decades. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Maben, and at the young age of 21, he became a Master Mason.

He passed away at home on June 12, 2018. He was 90 years old.

Never one to forget his humble beginnings, Louis was born in the Double Springs/Clarkson community of Webster County to Louis Mannon Williams and Ottis Hubbard Williams on September 9, 1927.

His family – as early as 1903 was in the grocery business – started by his grandfather, Alfa Thompson Williams. In the early 30's, his father, Louis Mannon took over and ran the business. The biggest challenge he faced was the cost of deliveries. During this time, the local Clarkson School was in need of a school bus, so he put the two together and was awarded the contract to own and operate a school bus for the school. Once or twice a month – as the need arose – he would drop off the school children at school and travel to Tupelo to pick up the merchandise his customers needed.

His father died in 1936 of Leukemia. Louis “Red” was only 9 years old at the time of his father's death. When he was not at school, he was working the family's 40-acre farm (with his mule Peanut) and helping his mother, Ottis, run the grocery store. Williams Grocery was moved to Maben in 1943.

In 1967, with the business growing and needing more shelf space, he made the decision to build a new store. At the same time, he was awarded the bid to build the town's new Post Office. The two new buildings and the paving of Water Street, where the new facilities were located, was the first growth the town of Maben had experienced in many years.

The new grocery, called the Big Star, kept growing and more space was again needed so in 1976, in order to better serve his growing customer base, he built another new store – which he ran until the mid80's when he was approached about selling the business. He accepted the offer, but in 2003, the store was closed. Saddened by the thought that the town of Maben did not have a grocery business or the sales revenue it generated, at age 76 he set about to completely remodel the store facility. It was completed in record time and re-opened, as The Grocery Store. He ran the store for several years before selling the business again. This brought to a close over 100 years and 3 generations in the family owned and operated, hometown grocery business.

In his retirement years, Mr. Red became a very accomplished gardener. His flowers, fruits and vegetables were abundant and he took great pleasure in sharing the rewards of his labor. He also was quite an accomplished guitar player, and loved to play and sing his country music. He enjoyed performing at the Sparta Opera and the Longview Opera and he often entertained the residents of local nursing homes. He also enjoyed camping and fishing. Throughout his life, he enjoyed traveling to many places in the United States and across Europe.

From 2000 to 2006, he and his wife lived on a family farm in Woodbury, Georgia where he enjoyed gardening, fishing the Flint River and working with the farm's cattle and horses. He attended the Woodbury Baptist Church.

Preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Ruth Garrett Williams in 2008 and his son, Louis Mannon Williams, in 2010. He was also predeceased by his sisters, Dora Williams Sansing and Bennie Ruth Williams Douglas.

He is survived by his wife, JoeAnn Skelton Williams; his children, Cheryl & Robert Moultrie of Woodbury, GA; Janet & Larry Mullins of Starkville, MS; Tom & Leone Williams of Seattle, WA; and Amy & Steve Scott of Jackson, MS; 11 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 12:00 Noon at the First Baptist Church in Maben. Visitation will be held prior Funeral from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 249, Maben 30750; Maben Memorial Gardens Cemetery, P.O. Box 402, Maben 39750; or The Double Springs Cemetery, 1594 Savannah Lake Road, Mantee, MS 39751

Arrangements are being handled by Welch Funeral Home. Friends may express condolences by signing the guest book online @ www.welchfuneralhomes.com