February 13, 2014

Funeral for Donald L. Williams, 77, of Decatur will be Mon., Feb. 17, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Carol Goforth officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.

Burial will be in Burningtree Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Mon., Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Williams died Thur., February 13, 2014, at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born Jan. 27, 1937, in Indiana to Melvin Williams and Bermeda Todd Williams. Mr. Williams had an interest in Pharmacy from an early age and at 13 went to work at Light’s Pharmacy in Indianapolis as a Pharmacy Tech. Because of his dedication to the field, a grant was established, by the owner, in Mr. Williams name for future pharmacy students. He was a 1964 graduate of Samford University (formerly Howard College). His career as a practicing pharmacist spanned 50 years and included starting the pharmacy department at Decatur General in 1970. This Department included an IV team, a unit dose dispensing Director of Hartselle Medical Center and retail pharmacy employment. He was currently employed at Elkmont Pharmacy. He was a member of the National Society of Hospital Pharmacists and the Alabama Pharmacy Association. Mr. Williams had an abiding love of sports and helped change the face of female athletics in the city of Decatur. He was instrumental in organizing and promoting the Dixie Girls Softball League. He inspired and co-coached women’s softball for over 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Williams of Decatur: four daughters, Cathy Woodruff (Larry), Betsy Shelton, Paula Moses and Karry Williams, all of Decatur; two brothers, Melvin Glen Williams (Barbara) and Morris Williams, both of Athens; four grandchildren, Alex Woodruff, Molly Moses, Maggie Moses and Anna Shelton; and two great-grandchildren, Lilly Moses and Eensley Moses.

Pallbearers will be former members of the Dixie Girls Softball Association and French Connection Softball Team.

In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorial donations of blood or money be made to LifeSouth or donate to your favorite Charity.