A Richmond native, who upon graduation from Armstrong High School furthered his educational opportunities and service through twenty years in the United States Navy as an Operation Specialist and Training Administrator. Following his military retirement he attended Richmond Business College and was later employed as a Special Agent with Prudential Life Insurance Company (Million Dollar Roundtable). His final post retirement pursuits were entrepreneurial; serving as Founder and Principal Owner of Flaming Restaurant & Lounge for over twenty years and Co-Owner and Secretary-Treasurer of American World Tours, Inc. for twenty-seven years, concurrently.
Willie is married to Jean T. Williams and has five adult children, eleven grandchildren and ten great-grands. He is a member of Sharon Baptist Church for over sixty-five years where he serves as a Deacon and Budget Director.
He served as past chairman and member of the BAC (Black Advisory Council) for over 25 years (WTVR-TV/CBS 6), the forerunner of the CAC (Community Advisory Council). He was presented a plaque by the BAC in 2003 for service during the period of 1978-2003 in recognition of “outstanding contribution and leadership to the BAC”, “Where the News Comes First”.
Additional community involvement include Living the Dream, Inc. (Treasurer); lota Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (Trustee); Military Retirees’ Club, Inc. (Business Manager); Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW-Life Member and Service Officer); Astoria Beneficial Club, Inc. (Assistant Chaplain); Hobson Lodge #23 Prince Hall masons (Past Master); Mocha Temple #7 (Honorary Past Potentate-32); Ricjmond Economic Development Corporation (Past Founder and Board Chairman); Richmond Chapter of the Continental Societies, Inc. (Board of Directors); Richmond NAACP (Past President) and Richmond Crusade for Voters (Past Director).
