Merritt Conley Williams

Merritt Conley Williams, 89, of the Enon Road area of Drexel went to be with his Lord on Sunday, April 2, 2017 following a period of declining health.  Born in Burke County, NC on March 17, 1928, he was the son of the late Rufus Edgar Williams and Lillian Bollinger Williams.  Merritt graduated from Drexel High School where he played baseball and drove a school bus.  Mr. Williams was a loyal member of Drexel First Church of God and was employed by Drexel Knitting Mills and was later a partner in Powell and Williams Oil Company.

Music was a passion of Merritt’s throughout his life as he became proficient in several forms of guitar and the mandolin.  Beginning in the 1940s, he played in country and bluegrass bands and performed for several years with such notables as George Shuffler, Herbert Lambert, and Martin Burns.  They initially played on stage at area movie theaters and on several regional radio stations.  In more recent decades, he performed with several local bands and was a Drexel Barbershop regular, where he participated until recently.

Mr. Williams is survived by his wife of 70 years, Nana Carolyn Baker (daughter of Preston and Inez Baker); daughter, Sheree McCaw and husband, Brian, of Matthews, NC; son, Terrell Eugene Williams and wife, Debbie, of Pleasant Garden, NC; granddaughters, Courtney, Lacey, and Kari McCaw; grandsons, Jonathan Williams, Timothy Williams, and Shaun McCaw; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Herbert Eugene Williams of Melbourne, FL and Benjamin Odell Williams of Drexel; one niece, one nephew, one great-niece; and four great-nephews.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2pm, Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Drexel First Church of God.  The funeral will be held at 2pm in the church with the Rev. Larry McCaw officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Drexel First Church of God, P.O. Box 218, Drexel, NC 28619 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.