James Marshall Williams passed away June 23, 2018 at the age of 88. He was born March 8, 1930 to the late Norman Price and Alice Wise Williams.

He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria Guinn Williams; daughter Martha Susan DeWitt; and siblings, Francis Martin, Norman Williams and Sarah Latham.

Marshall, the namesake of Nicola Marschall, was a member of the Exchange Club of Selma. Born and raised in Selma, he spent his entire life here. He was a member of First Christian Church, and later a longtime member of Meadowview Christian Church. In the 1940s, he started work as head Usher of the Wilby Theater, which lead to working as the manager of the Walton Theater for many years. While working with the theater, he also was an accountant with B.F. Goodrich, then Alamet, and finally worked as a self-employed public accountant until his retirement.

He is survived by his daughters, Alice Leverett and Beth (Paul) Chappell; grandchildren, Michael Bailey, Jamie Higdon, Laura (Eric) Gentilello, Marshall Chappell, Emily Chappell, Katie DeWitt and Parker DeWitt; son-in-law, Dickson DeWitt; great-grandchildren, Kayla (Brandon) Cooper, Taylor Jackson, Austin Anderson, Everett Gentilello, and Zelda Chappell; great-great-grandson, Zachary Palmer; and companion in his later years, Barbara Moates Williams, along with her family and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 10 a.m. at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral

Home with Otey Crisman officiating. Interment will follow in New Live Oak Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home.

Honorary pallbearers will be Cecil Williamson, Jimmie Nichols, Doug Chandler, Sonny Owen, Alan Yarbrough, Josh Yarbrough, Adam Crovato, James Boatwright, and Bobby Quarles.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Selma Animal Shelter or any animal shelter of your choice.