Tommie “Butch” Nesbit Williams Jr., son of Edna Williams and the late Tommie Nesbit Williams Sr., was born October 19, 1963 in Garfield Heights, Ohio. He was an only child.

During his formative years, he attended Paul Revere Elementary School. Later on, Tommie and his mother briefly resided in Denver, Colorado where at the age of 10, Tommie was baptized at Macedonia Baptist Church. He returned to Ohio where he resided in Warrensville Heights and was educated through the Warrensville Heights Public School System and attended Randallwood Elementary School. Tommie attended St. Henry’s Catholic School during middle school. He graduated from St. Peter Chanel High School and went on to attend Mount Union College where he received a Bachelor’s Degree.

Soon after college, Tommie began his career in 1990, when he gained employment as an Eligibility Specialist at Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services. Years later, it was also here that he met the love of his life Cecelia. Never could he have imagined that his simple “Good Morning” would be the salutation to the beginning of a twenty-year love affair. They were inseparable and in April 2002, they were married. From this blissful union, their son, Seth Allen was born. Tommie was also the proud father of his oldest son, Tommie Nesbit Williams III, born from a previous marriage (Annette).

After 31 years of dedicated service with the Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services, Tommie was blessed to retire in April of 2021. This giving him the time to be the full-time caregiver for his mother and aunt Dorothy Maye.

In addition to his wife, Butch had two passions: his sons and basketball! He played basketball throughout his high school and college years, but took the most pride in being a renowned professional “street baller” around the city of Cleveland and across the country. Moreover, it was a prerequisite that at every family reunion he attended, Butch would find somewhere to play! He participated in travel teams, 3 on 3 tournaments, YMCA, private leagues, recreational centers and basketball tournaments everywhere. He also coached in city leagues and in the Catholic Youth Organization for more than 20 years.

Tommie was a faithful member of the Lee Road Baptist Church, along with his mother Edna Williams, for 46 years. He was actively involved in several committees including Usher Board, the Baptism Committee and taught Sunday School. He was a mentor, a true Man of God, a fellow servant of Christ. Tommie was selfless. He made a difference in all the many lives he touched. His kindness made him a “gentleman of gentlemen”. To know him was to love him.

Entering into eternal rest on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, Tommie leaves to cherish loving memories, his devoted wife and best friend of 20 years, Cecelia; his loving mother, Edna Williams; beloved sons, Tommie Nesbit Williams III and Seth Allen Williams; Father-in-love, Sherlie Durham; Mother-in-love, Vergie Durham; sisters-in-love, Miriam and Lela Durham; aunts, Dorothy Maye, Jean (Eddie) Gunn, Sylvia Lee, Delores (Eli) Seaborn, Joan Maye, Betty Maye; many dear cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

Humbly Submitted,

The Family