John R. “Rick” Williams, Sr., 68, of Valdosta, died on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Langdale Hospice House. Born in Adel to the late John Leman & Joyce McCrary Williams, Rick grew up in Adel and graduated from Cook County High in 1975 where he played baseball. He then graduated from Valdosta State University with a B.B.A. in Marketing in 1980. At VSU he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. He is an owner and vice president of hotel operations for his family business, Williams Investment Company. Early on Rick developed a work ethic devoted to hard work. He grew up learning all aspects of the family hotel and restaurant businesses.

Rick and his family own and operate a number of hotels, restaurants and other companies in southern Georgia, many of which are IHG hotels including the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center (Valdosta), Holiday Inn Express & Suites (Valdosta), Candlewood Suites (Valdosta), and Holiday Inn Express (Tifton). They also operate several other Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham, Marriott and Choice hotels. In 2018, Williams Investment Company was recognized as Choice Hotels Hotelier of the Year. In 2021, their company was recognized as La Quinta Inn & Suites Developer of the Year.

Rick has also been very active in serving the community on the boards at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center, CVB and Tourism Authority, where he has served in all leadership positions and on various Valdosta Chamber of Commerce Committees. In addition, he previously served for seventeen years on the national Days Inn Franchisee Advisory Council and a present member of the IHG Owners Association Global Board. He also enjoyed traveling, both for his business and with family, playing golf at the Valdosta Country Club and numerous charity golf tournaments. Rick was also a supporter and fan of Valdosta State University sporting events, and a member of Park Avenue Church.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Emily Fisher Williams of Valdosta, two sons and a daughter in law, John Richard, Jr. & Scarlett Williams of Valdosta and Matthew Denman Williams of Atlanta; two grandsons, Trace Williams and Truett Williams; a sister and brother in law, Debbie & Paul McNeal of Valdosta and two brothers and sisters in law, Mike & Deane Williams of Amelia Island, FL and Steve & Lynn Williams of Adel. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins that he loved very much. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Pearlie Williams of Adel.

The funeral for Rick will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Park Avenue Church. Dr. Jimmy Towson will officiate. Entombment will follow at the McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends at Carson McLane Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5 until 7 pm. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Park Avenue Church, at www.parkave.church. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home