Ned Williams, beloved husband and best friend of Debra Williams, devoted stepfather to Dan (Lauren) Morrison and Rachel (Jeison) Montoya, and loving grandfather to Owen and Adeline Morrison and Sofia Montoya, passed away on June 26 after a brief illness, surrounded by his family. His was a life well-lived.
A lifelong Virginia Beach resident, Ned developed a deep love of the outdoors while spending summers at his family’s home on Tulls Bay in Moyock, North Carolina. An avid surfer in his youth, he later became an accomplished skier and sailboat racer. He dedicated much of his time and energy to preserving shoreline habitats and protecting pollinators. His greatest passion was his garden, which he transformed into a beautiful haven for birds and pollinators. Ned was also a talented chef and food enthusiast, best known for his celebrated Brunswick stew. An animal lover, he was rarely without a dog or two; his current companion, Jessie, a Boykin Spaniel, went everywhere with him.
Ned attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC, before graduating from Old Dominion University. He had a successful career in commercial real estate, most recently with Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate. He had a gift for visualizing the goal, bringing people together, and getting the deal done.
Ned generously gave his time to many community organizations, including the Virginia Beach Education Foundation, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Chamber of Commerce. He served as president and later chairman of the Virginia Aquarium Foundation Board. In recent years, he volunteered in the field and served on committees with Norfolk Botanical Garden, the Camellia Society, and First Landing State Park.
Ned welcomed everyone he met and believed each person had something good to offer. He cherished his many long-standing friendships. A true optimist, he stayed curious about new places and people throughout his life. He loved to travel – especially to Central Park and the High Line in NYC – and treasured time with his family. He will be deeply missed by family and friends and long remembered.
Ned did not want a formal gathering to mark his passing. He would have preferred that family and friends honor his memory by spending time outdoors, surrounded by the beauty of nature he so deeply appreciated, and simply thinking of him.
