Dr. Stanley Hugh Williams

Stanley Hugh Williams was born on January 23, 1938 in Bonnerdale/Crossroads, Arkansas to Retha Bright and Oscar Clinton Williams. He passed from this life July 23, 2020 at UAMS from several illnesses stemming from a stroke in 2011.

Stanley was born in his grandparent’s home in Crossroads and attended the Seventh Day Adventist school until his family moved to Glenwood, Arkansas. He graduated from Glenwood High School as Class President in 1956. He attended Southern University of Arkansas and graduated from Henderson State with a teaching degree. His first teaching job was at Lake Hamilton High School. There he taught Math and Science. Shortly after starting work there he met the love of his life, Nina Gale Curtis. He taught Math one year for Spring Lake High School in Earth, Texas before returning to teach at Lake Hamilton. He left Lake Hamilton, as High School principal, and moved his wife and daughters, Lori and Wendy, to Fayetteville to complete his master’s and Doctorate degrees at the University of Arkansas. After he completed his degrees, he moved his family to Monticello, Arkansas where he was Director of Research and Evaluation.

Dr. Williams came to Arkansas State University in 1972. He was an Assistant Professor, Director of Institutional Research, Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Planning and retired as Vice President for Finance, Planning and Administration. He was made Professor Emeritus and Emeritus Vice President for Finance, Planning and Administration and is listed as one of top 100 administrators in Arkansas State's history.

In 1977 he and Nina were blessed with a third daughter, Darrah. Stanley was a faithful member of the church of Christ. He served as a deacon for Southwest Church of Christ and was an elder for Downtown Church of Christ and Washington Avenue Church of Christ in Jonesboro.

Stanley retired from ASU in 1997 to care for his ill wife. She passed away in 1999.

In 2001 he married his second wife, Barbara Hammond from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They moved to Hot Springs Village. Coming out of retirement he went to work as Assistant Director of Institutional Finance for the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Later he served there as Senior Associate Director for Institutional Finance and Deputy Director. He retired from there in 2010.

January 2011 his life changed drastically when he had a stroke leaving his mind perfectly clear but his body partial paralyzed. Six month later he lost his second wife to cancer. He lived on his own for several years before building a house near his daughter, Wendy.

In the past few years Stanley enjoyed spending time with his special lady friend, Glenda Stuart of Prescott, Arkansas.

Stanley lost his daughter Lori in 2018 and never seemed to recover from that.

Stanley wanted to most be memorized for loving his Lord, family and friends. Not for his degrees or achievements.

He is proceeded in death by his father, mother, his loving wife, Nina, his beloved daughter, Lori Fenner and his second wife, Barbara.

He leaves behind to cherish his loving memory daughters Wendy (David) Grissom and Darrah (Mark) Lane, son-in-law Starr Fenner, his precious grandchildren; Alysa (Matthew Bishop) Fenner, Erynn (Jordan) Witt, Gray Grissom, Lane (Colin) Escue, Nina Lane, Emma Lane, Rowan Lane and one great grandson Rhys Escue. As well as his much loved sisters Patricia Bates and Teri Grisham and many, many more family members and friends he loved so much.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, August 3, 2020, in the Dillard Homestead Cemetery in Bonnerdale/Crossroad, Arkansas with Chuck Monan of Pinnacle Church of Christ in Little Rock officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Hot Springs.

In place of flowers, Stanley requested donations be made to Jessieville Church of Christ, 131 Sweetclover Street, Jessieville, AR 71949.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Gray Grissom and Rowan Lane, grandsons-in-law, Matthew Bishop and Colin Escue, and sons-in-law Starr Fenner, David Grissom and Mark Lane.

Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.