Marlon DaVay Williams Sr.

Mr. Marlon DaVay Williams, Sr. was born on December 18, 1966, in Tallahassee, FL at the FAMU Hospital to Joe Williams and Lettie Mae Miller. Marlon passed away on the evening of July 15, 2025, in Tallahassee.  Marlon was educated in Leon County Schools, where he attended Rickards High School and FAMU High. Though he left school before graduating, he later earned his GED. Marlon accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mt. Olive P.B. Church #2 under the leadership of Elder C.J. Jones.

Throughout his life, Marlon held many jobs—as a waiter at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park Lodge, a mortuary transport technician at Strong & Jones Funeral Home, a cook at FAMU and other restaurants, and doing other odd jobs with his skilled hands. Marlon was the proud father of Marlon Williams-Clark (formerly Jr.) and Donnell King. Marlon’s life was marked by both hardship and hope. He wrestled with addiction and its consequences but never lost his will to try again. His story is one of complexity, love, struggle, and perseverance. You couldn’t take Marlon too many places without somebody stopping to dap him up or say, ‘I know that man.’ Whether it was the corner store, the fish fry, the funeral home, a football game, or grocery store — he was known. He had that kind of spirit. Loud laughter, a quick story, and always a memory tied to somebody’s cousin, sister, or old coworker.

He belonged to a lot of people, and folks never forgot him. He loved to laugh, enjoyed a good time with family, and especially cherished the time he got to spend with his grandchildren. Marlon leaves behind his son, Dr. Marlon Williams-Clark (Malika) of Tallahassee, FL; brothers Bernard Williams, Sr. (Ebonie), Gerald Williams (Amber), and Renard Williams (Phyllis), all of Crawfordville, FL; sisters Renae Williams (David Samuel) of Crawfordville, FL, and Natasha Williams of Tallahassee, FL; grandchildren Malik Clark, Malachi Clark, and Marleigh Clark of Tallahassee, FL, and Laciauna King and Demoni King of Wichita, Kansas; aunt Victoria Williams; great uncle Preston Triplett (Lillie) of Crawfordville, FL; great aunt Shirley Triplett Taylor of Tampa, FL; special friend who loved him dearly, Chiquita King of Tallahassee, FL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Marlon is preceded in death by his son, Donnell King, his parents, Joe and Lettie Williams, maternal grandparents LeRoy Miller and Tessie Mae Triplett Miller, and paternal grandparents Rivers and Leola Williams.