Louis "Earl" Williams affectionately known as Earlybird was born on March 25, 1936 in Church Hill, MD to parents William "Bill" Williams and Irene Kemp Williams.  He died December 22, 2024 surrounded by his loving family at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Earl attended Crumpton Elementary School and Sudlersville High School as part of the Class of 1955. He began his work career as a very young boy working with his father on various farms around Crumpton and Church Hill.  He quit school at the end of the tenth grade to help with the family's finances.

On March 2, 1956, Earl married Joyce Carol McGinnes.  They stayed close to both their families and started their marriage in Starkey's Corner, residing there for over 20 years.  Earl's jobs as a young married man included many; service station attendant in Centerville and Price, Koontz Dairy, selling fresh fish and produce, Vita Foods, Delaware Refinery, Pure Oil and Tuck Davidson.  After 11 years of job hopping he promised Joyce he would settle down and get a job with benefits and stick it out.  In September of 1967 he started work at General Foods in Dover, DE, where he retired in 1997 after 30 years of service.  He truly stuck it out and enjoyed his job as a warehouse forklift operator.

Along the way Earl and Joyce had three children; Frankie, Tracy and Sherri.  The greatest joy and blessing this young family experienced was in early 1971 when Earl and Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. In the summer of 1971 the entire family became members of the Chestertown Seventh-day Adventist Church.  They became very active in the church and remained faithful for many years.

Along with his church involvement, Earl had many other interests.  Buying, restoring and selling tractors and farm equipment, collecting pedal tractors, Hess trucks and sports cards.  He just loved wheeling and dealing.  The greatest joy in his life was serving God, loving and spending time with his family and friends of which he had many.

In addition to his wife Joyce of almost 69 years, Earl is survived by his brother Foster Williams of Ridgely, MD, sister Henrietta (J.R.) Stavely of Haymarket, VA, sister Barbara (Bryan) Ebling of Ridgely, MD,  son Frankie (Sharon) of Barclay, MD, son Tracy of Church Hill, MD, and daughter Sherri (Matt) Ward of Stevensville, MD;  seven grandchildren, Franklin Williams Jr. (Amy), Kerri Weigley (Paul), Andrew Williams (Ashley), Tyler Williams (Taylor), Brandon Williams, Ryan Ward and Jacob Ward.  Thirteen great-grandchildren, Emmy Williams, Austin Weigley, Logan Williams, Nathan Weigley, Briley Williams, Halley Williams, Crew Williams, Aven Williams, Reeve Williams, Aiden Williams, Adah Williams, Bentzon Williams, Mattingley Williams, and many brothers and sisters in law, nephews, nieces and cousins.

Earl was lovingly known as granddad to so many children.  He was joyfully anticipating the arrival in early 2025 of his first great-great-grandson Braxton Williams.

Along with his parents Earl is preceded in death by brothers William (Buddy) Williams and Donald Lee Williams, sisters Ethel Mae Startt and Phyllis Ann Startt.

A viewing will be held at the Chestertown Seventh-day Adventist Church 305 N. Kent St. Chestertown, MD 21620 on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 from 10-11am where a funeral service will be held at 11am.  A burial will follow.

Arrangements by Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech.