Lonnie E. Williams

Lonnie Eugene Williams, 79, passed away on September 6, 2021, surrounded by his family.  A celebration of his life will be held at 2:30 pm on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Lakeland Funeral Home, 2125 Bartow Rd, Lakeland.  Visitation will start at 1:30 pm.    

Lonnie was born to the late Gerald and Gracie (Hardwick) Williams, on October 15, 1941 in Hollywood, Florida and his family moved to Lakeland when he was 5 years old.  He loved Lakeland and raised his family and founded a business here.  Lonnie was a General Contractor and a talented and highly ethical builder of custom residential homes.  He owned and operated Williams Construction for over 40 years and built or remodeled many homes in Lakeland and surrounding areas.

Lonnie loved Highland Park Church, where he was an active member and volunteered his specialized skills often.  As much pride as he took in his craft, he was most proud of his children and grandchildren and would turn down an opportunity to meet the Queen to listen to his granddaughter play the cello.  He was a master at fusing his personality and sense of humor with his disciplinary methods when attempting to raise his blended family of four children born within 5 years.  On one memorable occasion, he made clear that there were to be no friends in the house over a weekend that no parents would be home.  The house was clean and spotless when he returned and the teenager in question was convinced he had pulled off the crime of the century.  As said teenager was leaving for school Monday morning, Lonnie walked into the kitchen, set down a tape recorder, pressed play and walked back out without a word.  His eldest daughter heard the phrase ‘When you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME’ more times than she cares to remember.  When a family bathroom was remodeled, the lesson was found written on the drywall under the wallpaper.

Lonnie valued the Lord and his family over all else.  He established the ‘Williams Family Reunion’ on Anna Maria Island and kept it going for nearly 50 years.  He hosted annual Christmas parties for decades in a desire to keep his family, immediate and extended, together.  Lonnie was loved for his quick wit and was always the life of any party.  He loved fishing, taking his boat out in the gulf and traveling with Sandra, his wife of forty years, and their many longtime friends.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Geneva Jenks and his brothers Lee Williams and Carlos Williams. 

He is lovingly remembered by his wife Sandra of Lakeland, daughters Julie Abuaisha (Raed) and Melissa Hall and sons Brian McNabb (Lacy) and Timothy McNabb (Allison) all of Lakeland, his sister Margaret Perry and brothers Jerry Williams, Terry Williams and James Earl Williams.  He has 9 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.

The family would like to thank Vitas Hospice for the love they showed Lonnie and request donations to the Alzheimers Association in lieu of flowers.

The family kindly asks that all guests please wear a face covering.


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