James "Earl" Williams, 18, died Aug. 22 from injuries in a truck accident.
He was born in Chatham County, was a student at Georgia Southern University and worked as a butcher at Lanier's IGA. He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Sandfly, served on the Usher Board and sang in the Young Adult Choir. He was a 1999 honor graduate of Portal High School and served as Student Government president. He was a member of the Future Georgia Educators, The History Club, One Act Play, Science Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Beta Honor Society and Georgia Southern's Education Talent Search.
His many accomplishments included American Legion Post No. 90, Georgia Boys State representative, Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Coca-Cola Foundation Outstanding Academic Achievement Award and Bulloch County's Commission on Human Services Teen Advisory Board.