CHARLOTTE — Davis Earl “Shorty” Williams Jr., founder of textile industry supplier The D E Williams Company, died Saturday, January 15, 2005 at the Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville in Charlotte.
Williams was born in Griffin, GA on May 16, 1923 to the late Mary Shapard Williams and Davis E. Williams, Sr.
Williams graduated from Georgia Tech in 1947 where he played on the golf team. He served as a combat engineer in the Third Army under Gen. George S. Patton during World War II. Williams also participated in the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.
In 1948, he began his career in the textile industry, which spanned 56 years. In 1972, he founded The D E Williams Company and remained chairman of the board until his death.
Williams was past president of the Charlotte Textile Club as well as the Charlotte Chapter of the Georgia Tech Alumni Club. He was also a member of the North Carolina Manufacturers Association, the Georgia Textile Manufacturers Association, the Alabama Textile Manufacturers Association, the Southern Textile Association and the American Yarn Spinners Association.
Williams was a longtime member of Myers Park Country Club, where he enjoyed playing gin rummy and cheering for his beloved Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with his card room buddies. He was a charter member of St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Williams is survived by his wife, Anne Neighbors Williams of Charlotte; son, Davis E. Williams III and wife, Mardi Tyson Williams and his daughter, Hillary Britton Williams, all of Charlotte; daughter, Geary Williams Mandrapilias and husband, Gus Pete Mandrapilias and their son, Dean Britton Mandrapilias and their daughter, Jeanne Drexler and husband Matthew, all of Charlotte and brother, Thomas S. Williams of Griffin, GA.
A funeral service for Williams was scheduled to take place Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
