ROCK HILL – Thomas Lesslie “Pookie” Williams, Jr. died on April 24, 2023.
A memorial mass will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 902 Crawford Rd, Rock Hill, with Father Augustine Guzman officiating. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 3:30-7:00 pm at the “big house”, 755 East Rambo Rd, Rock Hill.
Pookie was the first of eight children (Pookie, Robbie, Rici, Chici, Priss, JoJo, Joanie, and No Nickname Annie) born to Peggy Rambo and Tom Williams. They all grew up together in the “big house” on Rambo Road.
Pookie graduated from Winthrop Training School, where he was crowned the May King, played basketball and football and was well known as a super dancer. He graduated from Clemson, then served time in the US Army Reserves.
Tom Williams served as the supervisor of various departments at the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company until the plant closed in 1998. For the next 15 years he was happily employed at the Farmer’s Exchange where he thrived on greeting customers and helping them select plants and farm supplies.
Pookie was a regular diner at the Ebenezer Grill where he reviewed the news and shared his views with friends and strangers.
Pookie is survived by his son, Hulan “Buddy” Williams (Donna) and grandsons, Jeremy and Jacob; his daughter, Elizabeth Williams (Sandy Britt); his brothers, Richard C. Williams and Charles C. Williams; and his sisters, Mary Margaret Yugawa, Joan Marie Platt and Annie Williams. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Williams; his son, Thomas L. “Tommy” Williams III; and his brothers, Robert R. Williams and Joseph F. Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Pookie’s name to Agape Hospice, 1069 Bayshore Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29732.