Hi, my name is Sheila Geeslin and I’m fundraising for Dan & Mary Williams.

Lawrence “Dan” Williams – known simply as “Dan” to the many friends and family who loved him, passed away on Sunday, May 15th following a long and courageous battle with melanoma skin cancer. Unfortunately, the long battle with cancer took a significant toll on Dan and his family financially and they are now in need of our support. Please take a moment to read Dan’s story and contribute to help his family in this time of dire need with medical bills and funeral expenses.

Dan Williams was a unique combination of a “one-of-a-kind” and an “every man” guy. He was a loving family man, a loyal friend, a lifelong believer and member of Mineral Wells UMC, a business man, and a community man. In short, he loved his family, his friends, his church and his community – and he did everything he could in his lifetime to support them all.

Dan was born on December 11, 1946 in Memphis, TN. He graduated from Olive Branch High School in 1964 and went on to pursue a higher education at Memphis State University graduating with a Bachelor of Accounting. He was a home builder and the owner of Ajax Construction in Olive Branch, MS. In 1986 Dan married his wife Mary and between them established a blended family with their four children – Tim Williams, Chris Williams, Jarrod Lyon and Brandon Lyon. Dan was the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren.

Dan was also an active community volunteer, serving in many roles and capacities over the years. At one time Dan served as a volunteer fire fighter and volunteer EMT with the ambulance service. But Dan’s passion was his volunteer work with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter where he helped to build 40+ Habitat Houses. Dan found a true calling in helping those who had a need. During Hurricane Katrina, Dan worked tirelessly in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area helping those communities clean up and start over. Wherever, whenever there was a need – Dan could always be found helping, organizing, building…doing anything and everything he could to help.

Dan was also a lifetime member of Mineral Wells UMC in Olive Branch, where he served as the Choir Director for 35 years and was an active Sunday School teacher until his recent illness prevented him from being present. But Dan never stopped teaching all of us what it meant to be a follower of Christ… loving God, loving your family and loving your neighbor.

In 2019, the city of Olive Branch, MS recognized Dan for the community leader he was and inducted Dan into the Olive Branch Hall of Fame. Dan was indeed a worthy inductee and deserving of this great honor.

Dan Williams was a great man. He will be loved and missed by all who knew him But more than that, Dan was the kind of guy that would stop and help a stranger. During their greatest time of loss and need, we are asking that you stop and help his family. No family should have to be devastated by medical bills simply because they tried to take care of their loved one. No family should have to worry about the cost of a funeral when they’ve lost that loved one. We are in a position to help, and knowing the person Dan Williams was, we know it’s what he would do for his neighbor, friend and yes, even a stranger.

Please consider helping.