On the afternoon of May 8th, Justin Terrell (JT) Williams passed away at the age of 44.
Justin grew up in the Watervliet area of New York where he attended Blue Creek Elementary and Shaker Junior High School. He graduated from Shaker High School in 2000 and attended Iona College where he studied computer science. He moved to Tampa, Florida with his parents in 2005.
As a baby you could see in his eyes, Justin was analyzing the world around him. As a child, Justin loved dogs, football and hamburgers with ketchup only. He played Peewee football. After his team lost several games, gave his coach a notebook of plays he had developed in an effort to stop their losing streak.
Justin’s love of computers began at an early age. As a teenager his interest led to a desire to move to Japan so he could develop new gaming applications. While he did not move to Japan, he had a very successful career in software development and architecture for several companies including Wolters Kluwer, Agile Thought and most recently Deloitte, where he was the sole US member for his team.
Justin was a pioneer in web application development for online shopping. The first Sam’s Club application for online shopping included code he wrote for front-end verification of the club member.
Justin met his former wife, Melana when she was in 3rd grade and he was in 4th. Through their marriage they were blessed with 2 children, Oliver, age 13 and Natalie, age 9. He was committed to providing for his family and was the sole provider for most of their marriage.
Justin loved to play jokes and would light up a room with laughter whether he was amongst friends or in a room full of strangers. His leaving has created a huge hole in the lives of those who knew and loved him.
Justin was proceeded in death by his paternal grandparents Clarence Authur Williams Sr and Lillian Murlene Williams, their sons DuMont and Eric Williams, and his maternal grandfather George W. Payne.
He leaves behind his children Oliver and Natalie, his father Clarence Arthur Williams Jr, mother Velina Antoinette Williams née Payne, and maternal grandmother Mary Payne.
His family in New York – brother Philip and his sister-in-law Da’Antria Williams nee Morris, and their sons Jamal and Ian. A maternal uncle, George Payne, in Phoenix, Arizona, a paternal aunt Sherra Faye Williams and paternal uncle Travis Craig Williams, both in Georgia. He also leaves a host of other family and friends across the country and around the world.
Justin will be missed – forever in our hearts.
Condolences
Much love to the Williams family as we mourn the passing of their beloved son Justin. May God continue to hold you tight through this time.
Sending our Condolences to you and your entire family.May 🙏🏿God grant you all peace and understanding,that Eath has no sorrow,that heaven can not heal♥️🌹Love you family ⚘️⚘️
Aunt Kate and Mary💕
This is still a shock to me and we were just texting three weeks ago. Justin and I used to hang out all the time when we both lived in downtown Tampa. We had such great times and funny times and we both loved a lot of the same things. We worked together on a complex web applications and Justin always had the practical and clean way to solve advanced issues. We used to laugh, argue, debate and with Justin, we could just be ourselves, no judgement. He was generous and kind and made great factial expressions! He will be greatly missed and I will always have him in memory and spirit!
P he is my youngest nephew of two the only two I have and I’m very sorry to see him go wish I had got them see him more nothing with all my heart sorry you left me at an early age may God bless him
Rest In Heaven Justin You’re Going To Be Missed 😓
My favorite quote from you,
“💕The best things in the world aren’t wrapped in boxes.”
You are sorely missed🦋
I can’t explain my feelings for the loss of your son.
See you next month
Our hearts are broken for Justin’s entire circle, his family and certainly for his children due to his untimely transition. Our prayers are for supernatural peace, comfort and reassurance that God remains able and ready to show His love to all who call on His great name. The First Baptist Church of Progress Village and Progress Village Christian Academy stand ready to support and will continue to lift you all in your season of grieving and beyond.
Sincere condolences 🙏
Sorry for the family’s loss. May he rest in peace .
My deepest condolences to the family.
Talita Sanders
Velina & Burger,
You all have my deepest condolences and prayers. May God continuously keep his comforting arms around the family.
I Love You❤️🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽
Justin and I had wonderful conversations about work and life in general. We became friends with our time together working for WK and agilethought. I remembered him paying lunches for homeless people multiple times in downtown Tampa. He was a wonderful and generous human being. I’m so sorry for your loss.
The totality of Justin‘s life cannot be erased by his passing. He touched many people throughout his life and his presence will live on in all these people as well as the legacy he left his two sons. Love you both.
My heartfelt condolence goes out to you both and family. There are no words that I can give you at a time like this. I can only pray for you and your family
To the Family,
My deepest condolences goes out to all of you. This right here is heart breaking. He left far too early but in his short time here he touched so many hearts. My wife is in tears and she has never met him. She understands what he means to me and we understand what he means to you. Thank you for sharing him with us.
To Jwill,
Brother I’m still in shock. This doesn’t seem real. There are so many conservations that we needed to have. So many things left unsaid but I am grateful for the conservations that we did get to have. I’m thankful for the great memories; going to Vegas for the first time, winning the school spades tournament together, the trips to McDonald’s to get two big Macs after playing hours of basketball, getting our butts kicked in the CML games, the advice, laughs and the banter back and forth. Long story short I love you brother, thank you for everything. Start working on that jump shot because when we meet again I don’t want to hear any excuses. Until then rest in peace brother.
Wow, I am stunned to learn Justin has left us for the great beyond. He was indeed a bright light in many of our lives. The most favorite time in my career was at WK with Justin. We had a wonderful mix of people that made what we were building seem magic. Justin was a leader and we were all family. His WK family were all very excited for him when we learned of his marriage and about Oliver.
I am so honored to have known Justin and I will always remember his smiling face for the rest of my days.
For all of us mourning, I want to share these pictures. A few of his wk work family (cause we ALL loved him) and my favorites from a shoot I did with him. They can’t ever capture his wonderful spirit, but they will make us all smile and I believe that’s what he would want.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o1dew8xsgwk9v7tjnox20/APi2-wmUJttjhPWPasEuOSg?rlkey=fm8m8r8i5caz2nmf7s1jhzayh&st=6tcx5uzp&dl=0
Grateful to have known you. Thank You for all the endless laughter! You will be deeply missed old friend. ❤️
Condolences to Justin’s family, especially his father Clarence (aka Burger). We met in Graduate school in 1970 and have been friends and brothers ever since. Praying for your family.
Rest in peace Justin. Condolences to the family. You will be missed neighbor.
I am crestfallen with grief to know about Justin’s demise. I have only fond memories of working with Justin in WK. Justin had a beautiful mind. He was a gifted problem solver. Justin was very kind. He had a rare perfect mix of high IQ & EQ. Justin had a great sense of humor. Justin loved to talk about space & existence of alien civilizations. Justin will be missed forever. May Justin rest in peace!
Please accept my sincere condolences. I worked with Justin at Wolters Kluwer. He was a great guy and I enjoyed the time I knew him. My prayers are with your family in this trying time. God is love. Love to all.
I am so sorry to hear this news. I have so many fond memories from college that include Justin. We had a lot of classes together. We played basketball, went to clubs and parties, and simply had great conversations and laughs. I am so happy that I knew him. He’s gone way too soon. My condolences.
I had the privilege of working with Justine at WK during 2014–2017 in Tampa. He was not only a genius at work but also a truly wonderful person at heart. His kindness, dedication, and positive spirit left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.
May his soul rest in peace. My heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
😔
I got to know Justin through Melana; he was a unique character and so hilarious; I have fond memories of staying up late into the night when visiting, having absurd debates and just cackling together. We would all be having such a fun time, none of us wanted to go to bed.
I was always impressed by what a good father Justin was, loving his kids so much and being so thoughtful about who they each are as individuals and what was best for them.
Rest in peace, Justin.
I’m so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Continued prayers to all family and friends of Justin. Prayers that your pain is replaced with the beautiful memories and moments shared.
Sending many condolences to the Williams family, and to his beautiful children Oliver and Natalie. May God help you during this difficult loss.
Justin I am in shock, we just spoke. You were an amazing and genuine person. During our five years of friendship, you did the absolute most you could to always help me out in any way. I will never not think about you. Your heart is pure gold.
Miss you my friend. I have worked with Justin for last 4 years. Till today I forget that he has left us and try to call his name in my meetings. My condolences to his family. You will always be missed. Thanks for all the wonderful talks and conversations we had always. Will miss them. Rest in peace brother.
Though I only worked with Justin Williams for a short time, he made a profound impression on me as a remote colleague. He possessed a rare combination of strong professional accountability and a remarkably calm, steady spirit. No matter how stressful a project became, his voice and attitude never wavered, bringing a sense of peace to everyone around him. Justin was a wonderful teammate and a genuinely compassionate person. He will be deeply missed. Rest in peace.