On Wednesday, July 3, 2019, Leo Clay Williams, 90, loving husband and wonderful father of four children, grandfather of 10, and great-grandfather of nine, peacefully passed away while at home in Newport News surrounded by family.
Leo was born Oct. 1, 1928, in Danville to Berkley Broddus and Sallie Motley Williams. After moving to the Hilton Village area of Newport News as a teenager, he attended Morrison High School (Warwick High) and served as the first SCA president of the school. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a sergeant and platoon commander. Afterwards, he attended the College of William & Mary and later went on to marry Miriam Barrett of Staten Island, New York, on June 5, 1954. He initially made his career in radio advertising for WVEC radio and left for a short while to assist his parents in the family business, Hilton Cleaners, before returning to WVEC and later 2WD radio, where he became a legend in the advertising world.
After his retirement at the age of 65, he was not done yet. He proceeded to open his own advertising agency, Impact Ad Group Inc., where he worked side by side with his wife, Miriam, for the next 25 years. He closed the business in March of this year, at the age of 90.
Leo’s particular fascination with writing would eventually become a central component of his success in his advertising career. Primarily in sales in the beginning, he would later become the creator of many eloquent ads and TV commercials. His talent was unprecedented and he was honored many times for his successes. Leo was a man where a handshake was his word. He was a master storyteller and completed his book about his life, just days before his death. He was a family man who adored his family beyond anything else and was adored back.
He was preceded in death by his father, Berkley B.; mother, Sallie M. Williams; and sister, Gail W. Lambiotte.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Miriam B. Williams; four children, Leah W. Shearin, and her husband, Doug, Caron W. Jones, and her husband, Bruce, Susan W. O’Connell and Berkley L. Williams; sister, Barbara Mathews of Newport News; grandchildren, Christopher Shearin, Lara Overy, Melanie Walton, Brandon Honeycutt, Cristen Treu, Andrew O’Connell, Patrick O’Connell, Katherine O’Connell, John Williams and Daniel Williams; nine great-grandchildren; and multiple nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Newport News-Warwick Chapter/NSDAR, Sarah Lou Whitehead Fund, to be used for the Good Citizen Award presented to outstanding Newport News high school seniors. Donations may be sent to 100 South Maple Road, Yorktown, VA 23693.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, at Peninsula Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 10, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park.
Share online condolences with the family at Peninsula Funeral Home.
