Obituary of Henry A. Williams, III

Henry A. ''Sandy'' Williams, III, age 80, died Sunday, May 3, 2015 at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson. Mr. Williams, III was born July 23, 1934 in Paterson, the son of the late Henry A. Williams, Jr. and Peggy (Dodds). Henry was a proud native Patersonian who can exclaim that his family has served the Paterson community for more than two hundred years! As Sandy says, "I am the product of my family." The family's history began over 400 years ago when a Land Grant from the King of Holland was given to the Van Saun-Van Houten families. This Land Grant includes what is presently Rockland County, New York; Bergen and Passaic Counties. In the early 1800's, Sandy's great- grandmother, Mary Louisa Van Houten-Van Saun Williams and great-grandfather, Henry A. Williams, made their home in Paterson and soon became very active in the city and the business community. Sandy's great-grandfather was the City of Paterson's Civil War Mayor. During his tenure, he raised a full quota of volunteers for the war effort. On patriotic holidays, Sandy, with his son, place flags at the graves of the heroes. His paternal grandfather served as the President of the NJ Senate (representing Passaic County); his maternal grandfather, Alexander Dodds, was an original member of the Paterson Rotary; and his father, Henry A. Williams, was a Rotarian and a member of the NAACP and is regarded as the Father of Paterson State Teacher's College (William Paterson University) having secured the purchase of the Hobart Estate during the 1950s. The family's distinguished history demonstrated service with distinction, dedication and contributions to benefit the community. These traits have continued as Sandy followed in the family's footsteps by spending his life giving back to the city that he cherishes. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Paterson which was founded by his parents in 1886. Sandy has served as President of the church's Safe Space Summer Camp for Paterson children since 1991. Since 2001, he has been President of the Greater Paterson Leadership Corp, a non-profit organization and the Chief Financial Officer of the United Paterson Development Corp also a non-profit since 1992. Both organizations raise and donate money only to Paterson groups to support Paterson youth, educational and athletic activities. The Williams family continues to live in the family home in Paterson, which Sandy says... is the Best Town in New Jersey. When asked about his outlook for Paterson, Sandy says firmly, "Over the last two hundred years, we've seen it all - we are strong and getting better every day." The Williams family lineage is anchored and thriving in Paterson. He is survived by his son Henry "Sandy" Williams and predeceased by his wife Paula Louise Castleberry. The funeral will be Thursday at 10:00 am at the United Presbyterian Church, 375 Van Houten Street, Paterson and will be celebrated by Rev. Anna Sweringen. Entombment will be in Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson.