Henry "Hank" Williams' Obituary
Henry Phillips Williams, also known as Hank, passed away on Monday, August 28th after a series of health complications over the past seven months. Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Dwight Archibald Williams and Ruth Seals Williams. Henry celebrated 57 wonderful years of marriage to the love of his life, Virginia Parotte Williams, one day before his passing. He also leaves behind his four children Guion Benkin (Jeremy), Katherine Burnett (William), Henry Williams (Amy), and Ginny Crittendon (Jesse) as well as his brother, Dwight Archibald Williams, Jr. Henry treasured and brought immense joy and inspiration to each of his eight grandsons: William (Billy) Burnett, Henry Williams III, Sam Benkin, Clay Crittendon, Andrew Williams, Carter Crittendon, Luke Williams and Davis Crittendon.
Henry was born in St. Louis, Missouri and later moved to Memphis where he graduated from East High School in 1961. Henry developed a passion for debate in high school and was such a star on the team that his teacher did not seem to mind when he snuck out to chat with Virginia in the hall. It was during this sixth period extracurricular class that Henry’s family life and future career started to bud. Henry enjoyed strong friendships from his high school years throughout his life. He later graduated from Washington University in 1965 and The University of Memphis Law School in 1967.
Henry and Virginia lived in Washington, D.C.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Mill Valley, California while Henry served in the FBI from 1968 to 1972 before returning home to Memphis to take a position with the State of Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as a felony prosecutor. In reminiscing with his colleagues this week, consistent themes surfaced as they described Henry’s 26 years in the Attorney General’s office: he was universally liked and respected by everyone, he was a mentor to all in the criminal justice system, and he had an extreme passion for fighting on behalf of victims of crime. He was known as a fierce prosecutor of violent offenders incorporating articulate, well thought out arguments. Henry did not end his fight after a day in the courtroom but continued after hours with a devotion to the Victim’s Rights Movement where he met with victims and their families on a regular basis.
Hank was instrumental in developing the child abuse task force. He was on the board of the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, and it was his passion for this population of victims that helped create what is now one of the Nation’s top Child Advocacy Centers serving 1,000s of children each year and fighting proactively to educate our community to let kids be kids without such trauma.
In the later years of his career, Henry gave up his love of arguing in the courtroom to serve as Deputy Director to the Attorney General for John Pierotti and he later retired in this position under Bill Gibbons. After retirement, Henry continued to fight for victims, and he was very proud of his work as a member of the District Attorney’s Elder Financial Fraud and Economic Crimes Team. It was his work with crimes against the elderly that paved the way for the State
of Tennessee to pass a law in 2017 to enable the District Attorney General of each judicial division to create a Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Team.
Henry enjoyed building a successful real estate business concurrent with his legal career and into retirement. His employees and many of his tenants were like family and everyone in Home Depot knew him by name.
In deep contrast to his courtroom demeanor, Henry was renowned for spreading joy and kindness everywhere he went. Henry was deeply empathetic and always taking care of others, even strangers, without reservation. He remained friends with many families of victims he helped during his career and throughout his life. Henry adored his time with all his friends from various stages of life and still met often with ROMEO (Real Old Men Eating Out) even in declining health. An encounter with Henry was truly treasured by all whether he was walking the halls of the criminal justice system, roaming Home Depot for a tool, or exercising on the streets near his home of 50 years.
Henry and his family have a wealth of memories that will forever be cherished from time spent at Pickwick Lake and in St. Pete Beach, Florida. He loved boating in both areas and shopping for boats - he and Virginia once went out, while living in California, to buy a canoe and came home with their first speed boat. Henry regularly skied his kids at Pickwick until there was no daylight left. Snow skiing and hiking in the mountains of Colorado with his family brought Henry immense joy. He spent considerable time as a child in Marble, Colorado and this area held a very special place in his heart.
He had a deep appreciation for music, history and baseball and his eight grandsons inherited some of his same passions. He had an insatiable appetite for lifelong learning and always said he had so many interests that he would never be able to devote life to one thing, but he may never have fully realized just how much of an expert he was at a diverse number of things. He was lovingly known for reading and ingesting every sentence he could in each museum he visited with his family.
The many victims he fought for, his tenants, this community, his colleagues, his friends, and especially his loved ones have benefited beyond words from the life of Henry Williams. The only way to sum up Henry in so few words is to say that he was simply one of the very best. His family is very grateful for each moment they shared with Henry, and they would like to thank all the friends that have lovingly supported them during this time and throughout their lives.
A visitation will be at Church of the Holy Communion on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at noon followed by a memorial service at 1 p.m.
The family ask that any memorials be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, Church of the Holy Communion or the charity of your choice.
What’s your fondest memory of Henry?
What’s a lesson you learned from Henry?
Share a story where Henry's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Henry you’ll never forget.
How did Henry make you smile?