James R. Williams, 81, of Dyersburg, passed away on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.

He was a retired farmer and a member of Miston Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He was an avid outdoorsman and a U.S. Army Veteran.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Miston Baptist Church with the Rev. Carmon Dennison officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

The family will receive visitors from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Dyersburg Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Emma Jean Williams of Dyersburg; three daughters, Felecia Dawn Hall of Dyersburg, Jamie Ing of Nashville and Rhonda Jean Robinson of Dyersburg; a son, David Glenn Williams of Byhalia, MS; three sisters, Gladys Orr and Graple Bottoms, both of Dyersburg and Shirley Bell of Missouri; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Obie and Mary Elizabeth Long Williams; three sisters, Betty King, Evelyn Williams and Juanita Cooper; and three brothers, Willie Paul Williams, Obie Williams, Jr. and Joe Franklin Williams.

Pallbearers will be Brock Williams, Logan Wildenberg, Austin Ing, Shannon Shoulders, Eric Allen and David Brooks. Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Nale, Ricky Baggett, Danny Baggett, Steve Brown, Albert Nale and Billy Gene Brooks.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the American Heart Association or to the American Lung Association.