Dewayne Everett Williams

Dewayne Everett Williams was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on Saturday, February 20, 1971. He was the second son born to Lloyd James Williams and Gloria Jean Robinson-Lewis (who preceded him in peace in 1995). He was an "Irish Twin," with just shy of a year's difference in age from his beloved older brother, Jamie Williams. His younger brother, Mensah Williams, joined the family in 1976. The Williams family moved from Louisiana to Northern California in the mid-1970s, making a home in Milpitas at first before eventually settling in the Evergreen neighborhood of San Jose, California. Dewayne played sports throughout his youth, including at Quimby Oak Junior High and Silver Creek High School. Blessed with a vivacious spirit and strong athletic talent, family and friends often joked that he was going to play professional sports straight out of Pop Warner—though he ultimately stopped growing at 5’7”. Undeterred, he never lost his love for the game. He loved it all: football, basketball, baseball, track, and more. Dewayne remained a massive, lifelong Bay Area sports fanatic, especially for the 49ers, and was a dedicated member of a multitude of Niner fan groups. Melissa Marie, his wife of 26 years, met Dewayne in 1991 through mutual friends, as they both grew up in the same neighborhood. Together, they embarked on their greatest adventure: becoming parents to Karinna Cheyenne Williams. Born the day after his birthday in 1995, Dewayne always called her arrival the best birthday present he ever received. Melissa and Dewayne were later married in Lake Tahoe on January 21, 2000. Dewayne was an unabashed "GIRL DAD" who constantly boasted about his beautiful daughter, his goddaughter Jazlynn Shearer, and how smart and sassy his nieces, Eva and Elena Lininger, were. Dewayne was also a dedicated youth sports coach for football and basketball. He coached his nephews, Qamar Williams and Edwin (Tre) Dickerson, both of whom he loved tremendously. He truly enjoyed coaching and stayed in touch with many of his young players well into their adulthood, continuing to offer support and life advice as he transitioned from an old coach into an honorary uncle. One of his most beautiful talents was that he never let anyone remain a stranger. He loved keeping in touch and would often throw out a quick text, a meme, a song, or a message just to let you know he was thinking of you and to check in on how you were doing. As a result, he made lifelong friends everywhere he went. When you remember Dewayne, think of how he loved to share his smile, how he loved music and dancing, and how quick he was with a hug and a laugh. He possessed an enormous capacity to love, and he loved with his whole being. While he left us far too soon, we are profoundly grateful for the blessing of having known and loved him.