Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the First Baptist Church of Collins for Howard Lee Williamson, 78 of Collins, who passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg.

Reverend Joseph Bird will officiate at the services with interment to follow in the Collins City Cemetery with military rites at graveside.

Mr. Williamson was born on Monday, April 1, 1929 in Seminary, Mississippi. He served with distinction in United States Air Force for 28 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and Cold War. He served in various assignments in the United States, Norway, Panama, Vietnam and Thailand. Upon his retirement from the Air Force he returned home and began work at the University of Southern Mississippi, retiring in 1994. He continued his service to our community as one of the founding members of the Seminary War Veterans Association, and was a dedicated member of the Collins Rotary Club. Mr. Williamson was a member of the First Baptist Church of Collins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard F. and Erma Lee Williamson; and his brother, Johnnie Harral Williamson.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-three years, Martha Joyce Hawkins Williamson of Collins; two sons, Howard Lee Williamson II, and his wife, Tammy of Woodland, Washington, and brian Allan Williamson and his wife, Connie of Collins; one daughter, Lynn Marie Elkins of Shreveport, Louisiana; one brother, R.F. "Butch" Williamson, and his wife, Shelby of Biloxi; a sister-in-law, Barbara Williamson of Brandon; six grandchildren, Cory Williamson, Crystal Williamson, Randee Johns, Kendall Cupak, Justin Williamson, and Kaitlin Williamson; two great-grandchildren, Sylas Johns, and Addison Johns; and a host of other family members and friends.

Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.billymkingcolonialchapel.com