Jay Dayton Williams, M.D., J.D passed away Sunday, August 7, 2016.

Jay Dayton Williams, M.D., J.D., a resident of Pensacola, FL, was born on October 26, 1933 in El Dorado, Arkansas. The oldest of three sons born to Charlie Mae Williams and Jay Dayton Williams, Sr., Jay grew up in Atlanta, GA where he graduated from Grady High School, Emory University and Emory University School of Medicine. He served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1959-1965 as the Squadron Medical Officer, Destroyer Squadron 36, Norfolk, VA.

Jay completed a pulmonary fellowship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta before moving to Pensacola in 1965. He practiced Internal Medicine and Pulmonology at the Medical Center Clinic for thirty years from 1965-1995. He served as Medical Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department and Pulmonary Laboratories of West Florida, Baptist and Sacred Heart hospitals from 1965-1976. Jay's professional accomplishments included serving as founding member of the American Association of Medical Directors of Respiratory Care; president of the Thoracic Society; board member of the northwest branch of the American Lung Association; and Senior Aviation Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration.

After 23 years as a physician, Jay added a second distinguished career by earning a law degree at the Jones School of Law, Faulkner University in 1988. His law career spanned 19 years, first with Perry and Perry in Mobile, AL from 1988-1992 and then with The Cochran Firm of Dothan and Mobile, AL from 1992-2007. He was a member of the Mobile Bar Association and was admitted to the Bar of the Southern District of Alabama, the Eleventh Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, and to the United States Supreme Court.

Active in the community, Jay was named a Knight in the Fiesta of Five Flags in 2000, was a long time member of the Order of Tristan and Rebellaires and served as president for the Fly Fishers of Northwest Florida. As a member of the Gulf Breeze Rotary Club, he was honored with the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Jay was also an active member of the Civil Air Patrol, Squadron 424, the Pensacola Yacht Club and a member of Christ Church. He enjoyed flying, sailing, fly-fishing and was active in supporting Wounded Warriors and Veterans.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Jay and Charlie Mae Williams and by his son, Christopher Wilson Williams.

He is survived by two daughters, Sarah Elizabeth Williams and Elizabeth Williams Jasperson (Matthew) both of Pensacola; a son, Jay Williams III; brothers, Wayne Williams of Jacksonville, FL and Gary Williams of Boerne, TX; nephews, Jeb Williams of Montgomery, TX and Clay Williams of Portland, OR; nieces, Cathy Kramer of Atlanta, GA, Heather Kacprzyk of Sarasota, FL and Alexandra Williams of Boerne, TX; as well as grandchildren, Marianne Ada McGehee, Jack Christopher Jasperson and William Jay Jasperson.

Visitation will be held 4:30-6:30pm Monday, August 15, 2016 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel on Airport Blvd. Funeral Service will be held 10:00am Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at Christ Episcopal Church on Wright St. Burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Retreat, 4235 Old Waynesboro Rd., Hephzibah, GA 30815.