BRANDON — James M. Williams, 87, of Brandon, died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held today, Aug. 20, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation was from 9 a.m. until the service.

Mr. Williams was born in Vicksburg. He graduated from Carr Central High School in 1942. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1945, serving in the South Pacific. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

He attended Millsaps College and graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1949. He was a purchasing agent for Armstrong Tire & Rubber Co. for some 15 years. For 25 years, he made and sold sand paintings created from natural colors and had a hobby with woodworking.

He was preceded in death by his father, David H. Williams; his mother, Susan Turner Williams; a brother, D.T. Williams; and sisters, Rebecca W. Biedenharn, Hilda L. White and Betty S. Wilkerson.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Olivia Holleman Williams of Brandon; three daughters, Sarah Barber of Brandon, Nancy Jane (David) Fines of Des Moines, Iowa, and Olivia Ann (Donald) Palermo of Ocean Springs; two sisters, Frances E. Williams of Vicksburg and Nancy L. Mumper of Madison; a brother, Herman Williams of New York, N.Y.; grandchildren, Mary Lisa Anderson (Lee), Dee Palermo (Kim), Joey Palermo, Olivia Fines Kunkler (Michael) and Daniel Barber; and a great-grandchild, Raleigh James Anderson.

Pallbearers were Dr. Don Palermo, Dee Palermo, David Fines, Daniel Barber, Joe Palermo and Lee Anderson.

Honorary pallbearers were H.W. Holleman and Elmo Allen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brandon Presbyterian Church, 209 S. College St., Brandon, MS 39042.