Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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He was born on July 2, 1926 in Davidson County to Fred and Anna Klass Williams.
After 35 and half years of service with the City of Thomasville — 22 years as city manager — Williams retired on Dec. 31, 1989. Two weeks into January of 1990, he had a stroke and was treated at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital.
The former city manager had remained healthy, for the most part, until a recent battle with pneumonia.
“He died suddenly,” his wife Catherine Shuler Williams said Wednesday. “We didn’t know he was this sick.”
A reception honoring his service to Thomasville was held on Jan. 14, 1990 at Central Recreation Department. At the ceremony, fellow employees and friends gave him a Bob Timberlake painting and the city presented him with a gold watch, plaque and a key to the city.
After his retirement, Williams worked part time at Family Funeral Care in Thomasville.
“He was a real fine person,” Catherine Williams said of her late husband. “He enjoyed serving as city manager and cared about the people of Thomasville very much.”
As a laboratory specialist in the City’s water and sewer department, City Manager Kelly Craver had the chance to work alongside Kyle Williams. On Tuesday, Craver called him a “mentor.”
“Kyle was somebody who was a lot of fun,” Craver said. “He had the confidence and the backing of the staff. He knew when to be serious. I can’t put into words how much he meant to me. I really enjoyed working for Kyle.”
Craver said he had talked to the former city manager about a month ago.
“He always kept an interest about the city up until his death,” he said. “I learned a lot from him on how government works.”
In 1982, Williams hired City Engineer Bryan Fulbright.
“Kyle was one of a kind,” Fulbright said. “He was a great person to work with. He was serious about things he needed to be serious about, but he believed in having some fun too.
Fulbright said Williams was very dedicated to his job but he also liked to joke around.
When asked what type of city manager Williams was Fulbright said, “I don’t know if I’m the right person to ask that question to because I am partial to Kyle, but I think he was a very good city manager. I enjoyed being around him.”
Former Thomasville Mayor Hubert Leonard agreed Williams was well liked by city staff and council.
“I am going to miss him,” Leonard said. “He will be missed by the entire community.”
In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter Lee Ann Burton and her husband, Rodney, of Thomasville, Jane Montgomery and her husband, Monty, of Dobson; brother Kenneth Williams and his wife, Betty, of Thomasville; grandchildren Brittany and Alexa Montgomery of Dobson and Joshua Burton of Thomasville.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.