Billy R. Williams
September 26, 1951 - September 18, 2018

Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello, AR 71655 Map & Directions Earl Willis Auditorium Drew Central School Monticello ,  AR 71655 9/22/2018 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Map & Directions Earl Willis Auditorium Drew Central School Monticello ,  AR 71655 9/22/2018 at 11:00 a.m. Map & Directions   Pleasant Valley Freewill Baptist Cemetery @ 3:00 p.m. Warren, AR 71671 Map & Directions American Heart Association 909 W. 2nd Little Rock, AR 72201   American Diabetes Association 320 Executive Ct. Ste 104 Little Rock, AR 72205   Plesant Valley Freewill Baptist Church 1021 Hwy 278 West Warren, AR 71671

Billy Ray Williams, age 66, of Monticello, AR, passed away on September 18, 2018. Billy was born in Warren to the late Mr. & Mrs. John Henry Williams. Mr. Williams was the beloved husband of Becke Perkins Williams who is herself a retired coach, educator & school counselor. Mr. Billy was the current Superintendent of Schools at Drew Central School District in Monticello. He and Becke are the owner/operators of the Rocking Horse Ranch Arkansas of Monticello. They have been married 47 years and have two sons.

Mr. Billy is remembered for his devotion to his wife throughout his lasting legacy of leadership and service to schools in Texas and Arkansas. He was a dedicated professional educator with an accomplished career as a public school administrator, teacher, and coach with forty-three years of experience in education. The past thirty-one years has been spent providing administrative leadership at the district and building level.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Monticello where he taught Adult 3 Sunday School and Awanas and served on various committees. His love of sports and public announcing dubbed him The Voice of the Redbugs, Billies, Bears and Pirates. He covered football, basketball, baseball & softball zealously. He was famous for his booming, 'How' bout them Pirates!' And he was also a supportive friend of the arts and a strong supporter of Seark Concert's SMArts program.
Mr. Williams attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello (BSE), Henderson State University (MSE), University of Central Arkansas (Secondary Principal Certificate) and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (Administrator's Certificate).

He began his teaching career as a Graduate Assistant, Instructor and Coach at Henderson State University in 1975-76. From there he taught and coached at Texas High School (Texarkana, TX), Warren High School and Howard Payne University (Brownwood, TX). He went on to become a High School Coach at Fordyce, then a Principal at Fordyce. Later taking a Principal Job at Monticello High School in order to bring his family closer to his and his wife's ailing parents. After receiving his superintendent's certificate he served in the Woodlawn and Drew Central School Districts. A few of his professional organizations included the AR Association of Educational Administrators, the AR Superintendent Academy and the AR Association of Rural Administrators. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Activities Association (District 7AA Conference President), Drew Memorial Hospital, SEABEC Vocational Center in Warren and the SEARK Educational Service Cooperative (President.) in Monticello. He was a past member of Rotary. Last month he began his training as an auxiliary police for the Monticello Police Dept.

Mr. Billy loved Drew Central Schools and Southeast Arkansas dearly, but at the end of the day loved being just five minutes from the ranch. He could change into his work clothes and bush hog his deer lanes or be a cowboy and help Mrs. Becke by working with the horses and doing ranch chores. They delighted in developing their horse ranch and the PATH Intl Therapeutic Equine Center there. They are very grateful for their sons, for their extended family and many friends, and their lifetime of work in education.

Billy Williams is survived by his son, Michael (and wife, Tiffany) of Puyallup, WA; his son Thomas (and fiancee' Suzy Pratt) of Weatherford TX; three grandchildren, Neala, Nicholas, and Nathanial; his sister, Martha Bess; his brother Bobby Ray (wife Anita); and a number of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018. Visitation will take place at 9:00 a.m., with funeral service starting at 11:00 at Drew Central's Earl Willis Auditorium Monticello, AR. Burial will take place that afternoon at Pleasant Valley Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery in Warren, AR at 3:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or the Pleasant Valley Freewill Baptist Church, 1021 Hwy 278 West, Warren, AR 71671. Arrangements by Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Online guestbook www.stephensondearman.com.