Roy Lee Williams
Class of 1955

 Carrollton - Roy Lee Williams, 77, died on July 28, 2014. Born in Portsmouth, he was the younger of Rosaline and George C. Williams' two sons. He attended Craddock High School, William & Mary, and the University of Delaware where he received his PhD in chemistry. Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Old Dominion University, Roy was a true Renaissance man. Equally passionate about science and art, he strove to express these loves in his daily life. He was an inspirational teacher who touched many lives during his 40+ years at ODU and found great joy in guiding the research of his students. A wine connoisseur, educator and researcher, Roy successfully wove his love of wine into his academic work. He founded ODU's Enological Research Center in 1991 and served as its director until 2004 and was named "Virginia Wine Industry Person of the Year" by the Commonwealth in 2001. He served as a wine columnist for the Daily Press and was the creator and organizer of the Town Point Virginia Wine Competition for 22 years. Longtime Hampton Roads wine educator, Roy taught wine appreciation classes for over 25 years. During his 8 years as president of the Carisbrooke Homeowners' Association, he strove to serve all residents' needs and those of the Smithfield community. In recent years, Roy rekindled his passion for art by painting in the Japanese Sumi-e tradition and maintained a studio in Smithfield.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry Williams; daughters, Elise Cofer of Virginia Beach and Valerie Williams of Silver Spring, MD; son-in-law Richard Cofer and granddaughters Elena and Carmen; son-in-law Gregory Harry and granddaughter Morgan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to scholarships in his memory--the Roy L. Williams Carisbrooke Scholarship Fund or the Roy L. Williams Isle of Wight League Artist Scholarship (https://www.regonline.com/roylwilliamsscholarships). A memorial celebration will be held from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., September 5, 2014 at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center located at 101 Museum Drive, Newport News. Roy's love of wine and fine food was well known. Please join his family and friends and raise a glass in his honor.

Published in The Virginian Pilot on Aug. 2, 2014