Dr. Ernest Russ Williams Jr., age 81, born on April 26, 1934, in Bogalusa, died on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at AMG Specialty Hospital in Bogalusa.
Dr. Williams was well known in Washington Parish and in Bogalusa as a genealogist and local historian and conducted extensive research into the genealogy of many Washington Parish families. He compiled and edited several volumes of histories of these families and other volumes on the history of the parish.
He earned bachelor, masters and PhD. degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of Southern Mississippi. He taught choral music at Bogalusa Junior High School for several years and then joined the faculty at Northeast Louisiana State University in Monroe as associate professor of history. After retiring there, he returned to Bogalusa.
He is survived by one son, Evan R. Williams (Cindy) of Thibodaux, La.; two daughters, Anne W. Hester (Brian) of West Monroe and Melanie W. Burford (Rob) of McKinney, Texas; seven grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, Kemp M. Williams; his parents, Ernest Russ Williams Sr. and Velma Kemp Williams; his sister, Mellonee W. Boughan; and brother-in-law, W. C. Boughan.
Visitation will be at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home on Friday, July 24, 2015, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The memorial services will be at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home Chapel at 4 p.m. with the Rev. Bill Moon officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to your church or favorite charitable organization.
To view and sign the register book online, visit pooleritchie funeralhome.com.