A beloved law enforcement officer known for his “big heart” and bright smile died after almost two decades on the job in North Carolina.
Willie Clyde Williams served as a deputy sheriff before his unexpected death, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our hearts are heavy, and our eyes are filled with tears at the loss of one of our own,” Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr. wrote in a statement posted to Facebook on Saturday, Oct. 29.
The sheriff’s office — which is based in Winston-Salem — said Williams started as a detention officer in 2003. He became a deputy sheriff three years later.
During his 19 years on the force, Williams made his mark on his department and beyond, officials said.
“We ask for prayers for his entire family and his extended family, FCSO,” Kimbrough wrote in his statement. “May God comfort all of us during these difficult days.”
Dozens of other Facebook users mourned Williams, who one person described as “a standard for what a deputy should be.” He was also remembered as an upbeat person and a doting dad.
“Willie was a proud father and a beloved family member,” his department wrote on Facebook. “He had a smile that could light up a room as soon as he walked in. The FCSO Family will never forget his kindness, compassion, and big heart.”
______
©2022 The Charlotte Observer.
Visit charlotteobserver.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
