Ronny Anthony Williams of Franklin, Tennessee

April 5, 1950 - January 24, 2021

The dismissal bell has rung. Dr. Ronny Williams transferred to a heavenly classroom on January
24, 2021 to be with his parents Charles Herman Williams and Murl Dean McDonald Williams,
and grandparents Audy and Lucy McDonald, and Theopolis and Mattie Williams.

He is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Wanda Williams, daughter Shannon Williams
Whitt (Hayes C. Whitt), grandson Lyon Corbin Whitt of Decatur, GA, brother Charles Gary
Williams (Rita), nephew Dr. J. T. Williams (Julianne), and great nephews Jack and Grant
Williams of Nashville,TN.

Dr. Williams was always the educator - continuously offering advice to everyone on how to
manage your money, pursue your education, or achieve your dreams. He was a financial and
political junkie with a strong civic mind and a passion for learning. He believed in kindness and
fairness to everyone, no matter to your political, social or economic status. “Civility binds us
together. Its presence or absence will likely affect the future direction this country takes.” Ronny
Williams, August 21, 2018.

Ronny graduated from West End High School where he was a member of the West End High
School Marching Band. He earned his BA and MA degrees from George Peabody College and
his Doctor of Education, from Vanderbilt University, 1994. In addition, Dr. Williams studied at
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA and Emory University, Atlanta, GA and took on-line courses
with Yale University. Dr. Williams was a Fulbright Scholar recipient in 1984, studying History,
Culture, and Society in the Netherlands. He was awarded a JCEE Japan Fellow where he was
one of 10 economic educators in the nation to travel to Japan on a Travel/Study Grant from the
Joint Council of Economic Education to conduct a comparative study of the free enterprise
system as it exists in the US and Japan. He was also a pioneer in research on how school
principals use humor in their leadership styles, presenting research at international leadership
conferences in Luxembourg and Australia. He retired from Metropolitan Nashville Public
Schools after 33 years, starting at Rose Park Junior High School and retiring from McGavock
High School where he taught Economics and AP Economics. During his teaching career he
also taught at Watkins Adult Continuing Education, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville,
and Cumberland University, Lebanon, TN - thus calculating at one time 10,000+ students from
diverse student populations.

One of his greatest accomplishments however was to see his daughter flourish into a loving and
caring person and to see her as a parent to his grandson. Ronny was an avid reader, listener of
jazz and a traveler to many U.S. National Parks and 4 of the 7 continents. Papa Doc’s most
memorable trip was taking his grandson to Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and Hershey, PA for
his 10th birthday in pursuit of a large chocolate bar. In lieu of flowers, make donations to your
local public library, or the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, or simply gift or read a book to a
special child.

The family would like to thank the countless healthcare heroes who tended to Ronny’s medical
needs during a pandemic risking their own health for his comfort and the continuous stream of
support they receive from family and friends.

Graveside services at Woodlawn Cemetery to be announced at a later date.