Joseph Williams, Sr. and Inez Cunningham Williams were blessed with one son Joseph Williams, Jr. on April 2nd, 1931, in Panola, AL.

With encouragement from his mother, Joe followed the teaching of Christianity and was baptized at Mount Tabor Church, Panola, AL. Around the age of eight Joe and his mother moved to Chicago, IL for better opportunities for the family. He excelled in school and discovered a gift of art and music. He played professionally (Alto, Tenor saxophone, B-flat and Alto clarinet) until he was drafted into the US Army.

After his two-year stint in the armed forces, he returned to Chicago where he pursued music and his love of art in college. In between school and work, he was introduced to Mildred Clark by his Aunt Estelle and was later married in 1955. While visiting Dr. Murry DePillars, he later relocated to Mechanicsville, Virginia. His many accomplishments include a BA in printmaking from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his MS in Visual Design from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Williams was a former director of the Southside Community Art Center Chicago, owner of the Afam Art Gallery in Chicago. He also taught at Northeastern Community College and the Dante School, both located in Chicago. His work was exhibited at the Smart Museum of Art University of Chicago, Crossroads Art Gallery, Richmond Virginia, ADA Gallery Richmond, Virginia. One of his favorite jobs was working as a Textile Screen Printing Specialist for the United Nations-International Labor Organization in the Caribbean for ten years (1975-1985). During his retirement he enjoyed playing music with Quiet Steps, traveling and mentoring. He encouraged people to discover their gifts from God and "everything is about thinking". Jose's parents and wife Mildred are predeceased.

He leaves behind his son Kim B. Williams; daughter Karla Williams Stevenson; three grandchildren Mrs. Joacqumia Williams Brown, Karl Stevenson and Byron Williams; one great grandson RJ Brown; two sisters Mrs. Vera (John) Johnson and Mrs. Joyce Paige; devoted cousins Ms. Betty Taylor, Mr. Gentle Cunningham, Ms. Elvra Boyd, the Williams Family (John, Frank, Nell, Annie, Lucy, Annie Louise, Perry, Joe, Ted, and Effell), nieces and nephews, devoted friends including Herman Collins, Robert Paige, Malcolm Benjamin, Wadsworth Jarrell, Gregory Paige, John Pickney, Lillian (John) Harris, the musicians from Quiet Steps, and wonderful neighbors of Sinclair Manor and various artists from around the world.