Harry Gilma Williamson died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on Sept. 8, 2008 after a five year journey with a rare gastrointestinal cancer.Born in Dothan, Alabama on Aug. 9, 1946, he was the son of Walter Gilma and Elizabeth Kelley Williamson. His family moved to N.C. when he was twelve. He graduated from Southern Alamance High School in 1964 and moved to Buie’s Creek, N.C. where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Religion and Philosophy from Campbell College.
For 22 years he was employed by Burlington Industries as a Human Resource Manager in a number of textile plants throughout Virginia and North Carolina, ending with his assignment to reopen the Asheville Plant in 1987. He was a champion of the wage employees in each facility and helped many workers in their efforts to further their educations, optimize benefits and gain promotions in their respective departments.
When the Asheville Plant closed in 1992, he chose to leave the corporate world and pursue his love of gardening by returning to college for a horticultural degree. Afterwards he accepted a position as a landscape gardener with the Biltmore Estate in 1994. He enjoyed his work there, focusing on the Approach Road design and maintenance, for 10 years.
Harry was a true Southern Alabama gentle-man, polite and kind in all his dealings. He loved his family and home above all else. He felt no need to travel in search of peace or fulfillment, but found both in abundance at home in his 2 acre “yarden” where he practiced his craft as both naturalist and horticulturist.
His college study and childhood upbringing gave him great familiarity with Biblical teachings. Other philosophical heroes were Joseph Campbell, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Freidrich Nietzsche. He was active in various churches wherever he lived, and joined the Unitarian Universalist Church after moving to Asheville.
Harry was the family photographer and enjoyed capturing informal human portraits and nature subjects immensely. For twenty years he documented the sunrise and moon cycle in every season over Little Cedar Mountain from his front porch. Music was also a great joy in his life and his tastes were wide-ranging. He appreciated equally the work of Jimmie Rogers and the symphonies of Beethoven and the wood thrush. His favorite sound of all was the happy voices of his four children.
He is survived by his parents, Walter Gilma and Mary Elizabeth Kelley Williamson of Dothan, and his soul mate and wife of 25 years, Nancy Hodges Williamson of Asheville.
Harry’s paternal grandparents were M.W. and Velma Williamson and his maternal grandparents were Floyed and Pennie Mullins Kelley, both of long-time Wiregrass families. Other survivors include his children, Melody Williamson of Jersey City, N.J.; Meri Christi Craft and her husband Mike and grandson Raine Craft of Mebane, N.C.; Mark Williamson of Raleigh, N.C. and William Hodges Williamson of Asheville. He is also survived by his brother, Ronald Walter Williamson and family of DeLand, Florida; brother Paul Kelley Williamson and family of St. Augustine, Florida, and several beloved nieces, nephews and grandnieces, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Friends of the Blue
Ridge Parkway - P.O. Box 20986, Roanoke, VA 24018, BSA Troop 5 - 61 Hickory Tree Rd., Asheville, NC 28805, or the UU Church of Asheville - 1 EdwinPlace, Asheville, NC 28801.
The Memorial Service for Harry was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville. The graveside service was held at Selma Baptist Church in Dothan at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15.