John Shuel Williams Jr.

John Shuel Williams, Jr., born December 9, 1939, passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness on April 30, 2012, with his daughters and son-in-law in attendance. He was a native of Wilmington , Delaware and a resident of Algiers , Louisiana for 39 years. John is survived by his daughters, Lisa Williams O’Brien and Lea Williams of Algiers, Lynn Williams Breaux and her husband, James Breaux and his only grandson, Jeremy Breaux, of Thibodeaux, Louisiana. John was preceded in death by his former wife, Marie Alice Revel, parents, John Shuel Williams, Sr. and Beryl DeShong Williams and maternal grandparents, Norman S. DeShong and Evelena Steen DeShong. After graduation from Sanford School in Hockessin , Delaware in 1957, John attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, from which he graduated in 1961. He then joined the United States Coast Guard and, after completion of active duty, he became a member of the Coast Guard Reserves, retiring as a Commander in 1994. In 1971, John joined The Salvage Association, where he worked as a Marine Surveyor until his retirement in 1999. After retiring from The Salvage Association, he opened Williams Marine Consulting, LLC and served as principal surveyor.



John served for many years as the Treasurer of the Tugboat Enthusiasts Society and was a long-standing member and board member of the Steamship Historical Society of America . He was also a member of numerous professional associations and organizations throughout his life, including the Marine Club, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, The National Association of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, The Association of Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada, the ITS Club and the Naval Historical Foundation.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 26, 2012 at Mothe Funeral Homes, 7040 Lapalco Blvd. , Marrero , LA 70072 at 4 PM. A visitation with friends and family will begin at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name may be made to one of the organizations he supported, including Sanford School, Kings Point, Tugboat Enthusiasts Society, Steamship Historical Society of America, The United States Navy Memorial, Counsel of American Maritime Museums, PBS, Audubon Nature Institute, Friends of City Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art or The Smithsonian Institution. For further funeral information or directions, please call Mothe Funeral Home at 504.366.4343. Family and friends may view and sign the online guestbook at www.mothefunerals.com .