James Gracen Williams, Iii.

Mr. James Gracen Williams, III., 72, of Charlotte, died Sunday, February 4, 2018 in Bradenton, Florida. Born in Iredell County on April 29, 1945, he was a son of the late James G. Williams, Jr. and Martha Ellen Saunders Williams. On November 7, 2000, he married Frances Friedman who survives.



Jim served his country in the U.S. Army Signal Corps 1st Army assigned to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics from 1969 to 1971.



Jim was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and earned a Master Of Arts degree from Wake Forest University. He joined Royal Insurance as Director of Management Information Systems in 1985 after serving in systems related positions in education, manufacturing and banking.



He served as enterprise Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President for Royal and SunAlliance USA. In this role he oversaw all information technology and systems functions for the US operations including computer and telecommunications infrastructure and the development and support of strategic business and management information systems. Previously, he served as Chief Technology Officer with responsibility for the technical infrastructure and support areas.



He has served as senior project manager for various corporate wide systems and outsourcing projects. He was promoted to Systems Executive for Personal Insurance in 1990 with responsibility for all personal lines systems functions. He was appointed Chief Technology Officer in December 1999 and assumed the CIO role in November 2000.



Jim accepted a secondment with Group Corporate Centre as a Senior IT Consultant in October. His first assignment in his new role was to serve as Interim Chief Technology Officer for the UK business. He later retired in 2008, from the United Kingdom Royal and SunAlliance. After retirement, he volunteered at two schools, Hawk Ridge and Elon Elementary Schools and he loved his work at Billingsville Elementary School where he helped the 4th and 5th graders for several years.



In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Jennifer and her husband Kenny Rampersad and Margaret Williams. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Josh Gaydos, Sara Rampersad and Miriam Williams along with his sister, Joyce Wooten and her husband, Wayne Wooten.



The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:30 P.M. Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Nicholson Funeral Home followed by a graveside service at 3:00 P.M. at Olivet Baptist Church Cemetery in Catawba County with Charlie Patrick, Chaplain officiating.



Condolences may be sent online to the family to www.nicholsonfunerals.com. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, 1613 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, N.C. 28207 or to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, P.O. Box 89367, Tampa, Florida, 33689.



A celebration of life service will also be held at the Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday, March 23, 2018 at 3:00 P.M.



Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.



Donations may be made to:

Ronald McDonald House Of Charlotte1613 E. Morehead St., Charlotte NC 28207Special Operations Warrior FoundationP.O. Box 89367, Tampa FL 33689