Mr. Bruce Edward Williams

Martinsburg, WV - Bruce Edward Williams, age 76 peacefully transitioned to eternal rest on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Hospice of the Panhandle in West Virginia.  Bruce was born March 5, 1948, in Seattle Washington to the late Edward and Dorothy Williams.

Bruce graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle.  In 1970 Bruce received a Bachelor of Art degree majoring in History and Political Science from the University of Washington in Seattle where he also became a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Bruce completed graduate work at the University of Connecticut in Latin American and African American History where he traveled to Brazil.  In 2002 He received a master’s degree in American history and African Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  His master’s Thesis: African Slave Artisans: Greek and Italian Architecture of Virginia Plantations, 1820-1860 

Although he worked in the corporate world, Bruce is known for his work as an educator.  Bruce worked as a Community College History Professor at Mitchell Community College, Statesville, NC, Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston Salem, NC and Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton, Virginia. Bruce served as the History and Social Studies Department Chair at Livingston College, Salisbury, North Carolina.  For eight years Bruce was an adjunct History Professor at Northern Virginia Community college at Annandale, Virginia.  History courses taught include American History I-II, Western Civilization I-II, American History in Film, World History, and African American History.

After retiring from college teaching, Bruce worked in the Fairfax County Public Schools system in Virginia as a history substitute teacher.  He enjoyed and was instrumental in helping students directing and encouraging them in their college choices. He mainly accepted teaching assignments for the upper division AP and IB history and social studies courses.   

 Bruce was an avid reader, very knowledgeable and loved sharing his information about subjects he was passionate about with others.  Historian Bruce often shared facts from the oral history he received from his grandparents and parents whose roots were from Texas. He enjoyed playing chess, listening to, and collecting jazz music. Bruce rarely met a stranger.  Bruce and his wife Octavia traveled to many plantations and historical sites along the east coast gathering historical data.  When moving to a new location, Bruce’s priorities included joining a church and registering to vote.  Bruce met his wife of 33 years at a church in Atlanta, GA.  Bruce has been a member various churches in Virginia where he served as Vacation Bible School teacher, Chairman of the Black History Committee and various Black History guest speaking engagements. Bruce became a member of Bluestone Missionary Baptist Church, Pelham, NC in May 2024.

In addition to his parents, Bruce was predeceased by his brother Martin (Marty) Williams.

Bruce leaves to cherish memories, a wife, Octavia Russell Williams of Martinsburg WV; one brother, Theodore (Ted) Williams, SeaTac WA, one sister, Willa Mae Reed, Colorado Springs, Colorado, a niece Evelyn (Punkin) Williams and a nephew Dennis Williams of Seattle Washington., as well as a host other loving relatives and friends.

A viewing for Mr. Bruce Edward Williams will be Saturday, September 28, 2024; from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Fulton-Walton Memorial Chapel 417 Price St. Eden, NC.

Visitation will be Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm at Bluestone Missionary Baptist Church.

Funeral Services for Mr. Bruce Edward Williams will be Sunday, September 29, 2024; 2:00 p.m. at Bluestone Missionary Baptist Church, Pelham, NC. Pastor Hamid H. Kamara will deliver the words of comfort.  Interment will follow in the Bluestone Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

You are invited to attend services for Mr. Bruce Edward Williams virtually by clicking on the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/fultonwaltonfuneralhome/live

Should Live Streaming not be available due to certain conditions resulting from rural location with little to no Broadband connection, no WIFI signal and or little to no cellular coverage, we will record the services of your loved one in its entirety and post a link where you will be able to partake in the services within 48 hours.

Fulton-Walton Memorial Chapel 417 Price St. Eden, NC.

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