Beloved husband, father, and grandfather John C. Williams lost his brief but brave battle with cancer on May 24, 2020.

John was born on March 17, 1947 in Jackson, Minn. After graduating from Jackson High School, John headed to college at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, where he earned his undergraduate degree in photography in 1969. He then worked as the campus photographer at the University of Wisconsin — Stout, where he earned his master’s degree in media technology in 1977.

After briefly working for an ad agency while living in Evansville, Ind., John relocated to Atlanta, Ga., to work for Cox Enterprises at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper in June 1979. John spent 26 years working for Cox in various roles including marketing director and national advertising director for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and after his time at the paper, he was promoted to Cox Enterprises and named vice president of marketing and communications. He retired from Cox Enterprises in May 2005.

John spent the last 15 years enjoying his retirement on Whidbey Island, Wash. He ran a book business called Words & Pictures, played golf often with close friends at the Useless Bay Golf and Country Club, and traveled frequently visiting family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Joy Griffin, of Freeland, Wash.; son,Neal Williams, of Eugene, Ore.; and daughter, Jenny Williams, and grandson, Emmet John Williams, of Atlanta, Ga.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell F. Williams and Evelyn Williams, and his stepmother, Joyce Williams.

Celebration of life gatherings will be held on Whidbey Island, in Atlanta, Ga., and in Jackson, Minn. at a later date. John will be forever missed by those who knew and loved him.