Earnest Lee Williams

Earnest Lee Williams, age 59 of Waupun, passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at his residence.

Ernie was born on January 26, 1950 at Stacey, Arkansas, a son to Robert and Amanda (Payne) Williams. He attended J.S. Phelix Elementary and High Schools in Marion, Arkansas. Ernie graduated high school in 1968 and against his wishes and at the direction of his mother enrolled at Arkansas AM&N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. While at AM&N, he majored in Political Science and worked part-time at the Pine Bluff Post Office. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Arkansas Agriculture, Mechanical and Normal College (AM&N), now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Arkansas in May 1972. Ernie and a group of students left AM&N in 1972 without participating in graduation exercise as a protest against the change in administration and the college being absorbed into the state university system. He had a penchant for taking the causes of the under-dogs and working hard to even the playing field for all. This quest followed him throughout his life.

Ernie arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in June of 1972 and moved to Waupun to start work at Waupun State Prison on July 10, 1972. The rest is legend, as he was employed with Department of Corrections for thirty years. He turned down many opportunities to move to management positions. He felt he could do more for officers and inmates as a Blue Shirt. Early in his stay in Waupun, Ernie attached himself to Rick and Vicky Farley and their son Jason. They became the family he grew to love and cherish to the day of his passing. Ernie had a profound love of music and enjoyed attending concerts with his friends.

Ernie is survived by his brother Robert of Olympia, Washington; a sister-in-law, Gloria Williams Jones of Memphis, Tennessee; two nephews, Shaun Jamal, his wife Connie and their children Miles and Marcellus; and Keith Bernard his wife Pauline, their son Mason and daughter Carmen. He is further survived by his true family, Rick, Vicky and Jason Farley of Waupun.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1953; and his mother in 1977.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2010 from 4 – 8 p.m. at Kohls Community Funeral Home, 405 West Main Street, Waupun. Friends are encouraged to visit the family and share their memories of Ernie. A private family burial will be in the Forest Mound Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed in Ernie’s name to the Waupun Food Pantry, 12 South Mill Street, Waupun WI 53963.