Patrick Edmond Williams

Patrick "Pat" Williams, 57, of Ocean Springs, MS, lost his battle with cancer on Thursday, July 7, 2011 in Ocean Springs. Pat was born in Ocean Springs and remained a lifelong resident. He retired chief of the Ocean Springs Fire Dept. after 28 years of service. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and mentor. He loved living on the coast spending as much time as possible boating, fishing and living "Just another day in Paradise." He was preceded in death by his parents, James R. and Celeste Williams; his twin brothers, Michael and Joseph Williams; his nephew, Christopher David Williams; and his great-nephew, Joseph Gregory Williams. Survivors include his wife, Sheila Williams; his daughter, Heather Williams Rushing; his son, Brian (Emilee) Williams; his stepdaughter, Stephanie Anderson; and his stepson, Clay (Jeannine) Anderson; his five sisters, Ora Mae (Gil) Koehler, Mary Ellen (Harold) Hitt, Kathleen (Ben) Esquabel, Diane (Earl) Nightingale and Ann Marie (John) Hardwick; his two brothers, James R.(Rose Marie) Williams, Jr. and David F. (Sylvia) Williams; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 2:00 pm where friends may visit from 12:00 pm ~ 2:00 pm all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Crestlawn Memorial Park in Ocean Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Brain and Spine Research through their website, www.mdanderson.org/gifts.