Bret
Williams, M.D., loving father, husband and physician who dedicated
his life’s work to improving the lives of underserved patients
throughout the world, died at age 55.
Dr. Williams is survived
by his wife, Julie Blue Williams of Efland, NC, daughter Kaitlin Blue
Williams of Bynum, NC, sons Christopher Williams of Durham, NC, Brian
Williams of Charlotte, NC, Brian Layh of Wake Forest, NC, mother Joan
Williams and step-father Robert Simpson, of Lawrence, KS, brothers Lance
Williams of San Francisco, Todd and Sean Williams of Lawrence, KS. He
is preceded in death by his father, Skipper Williams.
During the latter part of
his life, Dr. Williams worked diligently as a supporter and activist
with the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (M.A.R.F.). He founded
the M.A.R.F. patient-physician alliance and was active in lobbying the
Senate to block the growing importation of still legal asbestos, the
leading cause of malignant mesothelioma.
Prior to his work with
M.A.R.F., Dr. Williams stayed true to his life’s passion – reaching out
to those who are medically underserved. He took his skills to East
Africa where he worked in Tanzania and Kenya. Following this, he and
his family went to Bolivia where he volunteered at a Medical Clinic in
the Andes Mountains, providing care to the Aymara Indians. Coming back
to the United States, Dr. Williams and his family moved to Daufuskie
Island, SC, where he started the Daufuskie Island Clinic and served as
the Medical Director. Dr. Williams also served for five years as the
Medical Director for the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of Hilton Head,
SC, – a model Free Clinic for the working poor. He often mentioned that
the many years he spent as a country doctor in Caswell County, N.C. were
his most fulfilling.
Dr. Williams was born on
July 19, 1951 in Lawrence, KS. He is a graduate of the University of
Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Williams
completed his internship, residency and fellowships at Duke University
Medical Center. He earned an M.P.H. from the University of North
Carolina School of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health.
Dr. Williams’ service
will be on Friday, May 18th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cedar Grove
United Methodist Church, Efland-Cedar Grove Road, Cedar Grove, North
Carolina.
In lieu of flowers, the
family respectfully requests that contributions be made to his respected
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, (877) 363-6376 or
www.marf.org.
- DIRECTIONS -
Mebane, N.C. Motels
Hampton Inn (919) 563-540
Holiday Inn Express (919) 304-9900
From RDU Airport
Take I-40 West toward Chapel Hill/Greensboro
Exit #153 for NC-119
Turn Left, go over the overpass
Hampton Inn is on the right
Holiday Inn Express is left at the 2nd stoplight
Cedar Grove United
Methodist Church
From RDU Airport:
Take I-40 West toward
Chapel Hill/Greensboro
Exit # 160 for Efland
Turn Right at the bottom of the exit
Go over the railroad tracks and turn left at the stop sign
Go straight through the stoplight and you will be on Efland-Cedar Grove
Rd
=Stay on Efland-Cedar Grove Rd approximately 5 miles
Watch for the flashing yellow stoplight at the Carr Store Road
intersection
The Church is on the left just past the Carr Store Road intersection
Church Address:
5218 Efland-Cedar Grove Rd
Cedar Grove, NC 27231
PATIENT PROFILES
