MILESTONE: Douglas Arthur Williams

He was the youngest of five brothers including Paul, Everett, and Rollie Williams, and Clay Fouts. One of 22 graduates in his Barbers Hill High School class of 1960, he also graduated from Abilene Christian University in Texas with a degree in business administration in 1964. After seven years of pursuit, he married Bethul Rice Williams on August 28, 1964, and was proud to call Bethul his wife for almost 50 years. Doug worked in family businesses from the time he was a young child and returned to work in the family grocery store in Mont Belvieu after graduation from ACU. His early career included 18 months with Exxon and 10 years with U.S. Steel.

Doug always had a passion for serving the Lord and dedicated his later career to ministry with Missouri Street Church of Christ in Baytown, Texas (12 years), Outreach Church of Christ in Mont Belvieu, Texas and Impact Houston Church of Christ (27 years). He served as song leader (since age 16), counselor, education minister and as champion of the poor. Doug was a founding member of the Impact Church, which focuses its ministry on giving significance to the poor and to the homeless.

Doug became better equipped to serve through earning postgraduate degrees in biblical and related studies and in marriage and family therapy. Doug’s ministry focused on people that society disregards. The Lord taught Doug to see all people as having eternal value and significance. That lesson enabled Doug to be God’s instrument to impact lives for good, to heal and to extend compassion in ways that only God can do. He sponsored a recovery house and saw many lives changed as a result of the grace provided through that program. 

His greatest blessings in life include his family and the countless people whose lives were touched by the Lord through his service. Doug was known as a man of his word.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers. Doug is survived by his loving wife, Bethul Williams of Mont Belvieu, Texas; sons Stanton Williams and wife Kelly of Keller, Texas, and Thayne Williams and wife, Shawna, of Mena, Ark.; and by grandchildren Maclaine, Garrison and Jarrett, all of Keller, Texas, and Mason, Alexa and Kaylee, all of Mena, Ark. He’s also survived by his brother, Paul Williams, and wife Susie of Mont Belvieu and sisters-in-law, Maydell Williams Brill of Baytown, Texas, and Doris Williams of Houston.