We are deeply saddened to announce that Ira A. Williams Sr., also known as (Rahim), passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the age of 77.
The viewing will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, at Turnbull’s Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 9 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22, in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. Interment will be in Eastern Cemetery in Smith Bay.
He lived with his wife at Sugar Estate, Eight Street for over 50 years. Ira was the fourth son of Cecil Williams and Edith John, who were both born in Estate Annaly on the big island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. After World War II, his parents relocated to St. Thomas where Ira was born on Nov. 26, 1946. He spent his formative years growing up at the Lockhart Lumber Yard (Bay Side) until the family relocated to the Sugar Estate area where he would spend the rest of his life. He worked briefly for the Department of Education but spent most of his career at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority as a lineman for twenty years; retiring in 2000.
Ira was an avid lover of horse racing. The passion for horseracing led him to travel to live events of the Breeder’s Cup, the Belmont and the Kentucky Derby for many years with his brothers and nephews. He loved watching sports and participated in various man leagues on the island. The Atlanta Braves was his favorite team. He enjoyed farming, reading and rearing livestock and did this in his golden years. He also had a love for the water and would frequent Brewers Bay most mornings to exercise and take a dip.
Ira had an unassuming personality, was quiet, yet fierce, appreciative of hard work and understood the dynamics of family. He gravitated to the simple things in life and will be greatly missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Williams; mother, Edith John Williams; brother, Burnette Williams; sister, Ruby Williams Jones; and niece, Maureen Williams.
He leaves to mourn his loss his loving wife of 55 years, Veronica Pedro Williams; son, Ira Williams Jr.; daughter, Willette Williams; stepson, Jacoda Williams; grandchildren: Wyomma V. Williams and Maliya Williams; great-grandchild, Shauntay D. Williams; brothers: Vincent Doward Sr. (St. Croix), Roland Williams, (North Carolina), Glen (Agin) Williams (Maryland) and Clement “Bayie” Williams; sisters: Clemencia (Candy) White and Janet Alvarez; sisters-in-law: Shirley Williams, Janet Pedro and Charmaine Doward; brothers-in-law: John Thomas and Kenneth Pedro; and aunt-in-law Patricia Williams.
He is also mourned by nephews: Vincent “Tito” Doward Jr., Clement “Boopie” Doward, O’Neal Doward, Alexis Doward, Celestino “Tony” White Jr., Clement “Irie” White, Brent Gumbs, Vernon Jones Jr., Avondre B. Alvarez and Tafari Oliviere; nieces: Verna-Mae Doward, Colette White-Amaro, Aiesha Doward, Rochelle Williams, Cynthia Doward, Shaniqua Williams, Tameika M. Clark and Alayshia S. Alvarez.
Also left to mourn are cousins: Victor Hendricks, June Grimes, Cecilia Phoenix, Cardell Lais, Vernell Cruz, Lorna Story, Richard John, Iola Holmes, Meric Hendricks, Victor John III, Alissa John, Cynthia John-Laurencin, Charlene Hendersen, Chris Richards, Joyce Solomon, Andrew John, Theresa Phoenix, Barbara John-Foster, Kenneth John, Norman John, Gladys John, Dominic Cruz, Tiffany Birdsail, Malik Wylie, Rosietta Holmes, Ann Marie Blackwood-Hicks and Viola Holmes.
Other mouners include special friends and family: Celestino A. White Sr., Aubrey Harrigan, Buckey Brown, Beverley Monsanto, Doreen Williams, Andres Amaro, the McBean, Wattley, White, Hodge, Brow, Classen and Callwood families, the Brewers Bay early morning swimmers; and many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Arrangements are entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home & Crematory Services.
