Jerry Douglas Williamson

Jerry Douglas Williamson

January 9, 1939 – June 4, 2025

Jerry Douglas Williamson was born to Frank James Williamson and Ella Douglas Williamson in the small southwestern Idaho town of Weiser. His early years were spent on a ranch in eastern Oregon where his father and mother were employed. He later lived on several ranches and farms in southwestern Idaho until moving to Caldwell, Idaho where his father was employed by a large dairy. He attended Caldwell schools until joining the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17.

After being honorably discharged, Jerry attended the College of Idaho on a football scholarship. He left college after two years and traveled throughout the West and Mexico, before traveling to New Orleans to see the Mardi Gras. In New Orleans he met the love of his life, Carol Joly, while working at Sears. After a brief courtship, they married on April 12, 1962 in Magnolia, Mississippi.

Jerry spent almost seven years on the New Orleans Police Department, leaving as a Sergeant. While on the NOPD, he attended Loyola University receiving a Batchelor’s Degree in 1968. He was then employed as a special agent by the U.S. Department of Justice in what later became the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He worked drug cases both nationally and internationally, and was assigned as a supervisory agent in New Orleans in 1973. In 1975, he was re-assigned as special agent in charge of the Mobile, Alabama DEA office where he remained until retirement.

Upon retirement from the DEA, Jerry attended the University of South Alabama, earning a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation. He was then employed by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (VRS) and later assigned as a field supervisor with responsibility over five counties. During this time, he was also a member of the Board of Directors of Easter Seals, Goodwill Industries, Independent Living Center. He worked at VRS until retiring in 2001.

Jerry was a charter member of the Jesse Andrews Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Daphne, Alabama.

Carol and Jerry had four sons, Douglas (Sheila), Ian (Christie), Adam (Kelly), and Matthew, as well as seven grandchildren, Caleb, Kyle, Warner, Drew, Gabrielle, Angelina, and Emma, and one great grandchild, Violet. He is survived by all of them, as well as several beloved nieces and nephews and sister-in-law, Janis Joly Weber.

Jerry was predeceased by his parents, his wife Carol, his brother Clifford and sister Ollie May Helton (Williamson). He and Carol were married for almost 60 years and resided in the Mobile area for over 45 years. During their retirement years, they traveled much of the world together, and particularly enjoyed their trip to Egypt.

Jerry was an avid reader, and he enjoyed tennis when he was younger, golf in his later years, traveling with his wife Carol, her Louisiana cooking, the game of baseball, Alabama football, South Alabama football, and he loved watching his grandkids play sports.

Graveside services will be held at the Alabama Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama on June 13, 2025 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to Breakthrough T1D or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.