Curtis C. Williams Jr.

Many people going through the journey of life worry that they will live a life of fear and regret and not reach the destiny that God set for them. Fortunately for Curtis Williams, he lived a life that was not only wildly successful but full of the love, blessings, and hopes fulfilled that one could only dream about.  And it all started on September 7, 1929.  In the midst of the largest wall street market crash recorded in US history which eventually lead to the Great Depression, a blessing occurred and Curtis Williams was born to Curtis & Brunette Williams in the countryside of Texarkana, Texas.   As the second eldest of 10 brothers and sisters, his level of responsibility and pressure to be a positive role model for his siblings came into play at an early age.

Curtis attended Booker T. Washington High School and was an exceptional basketball player. He later attended Tennessee State High School inNashville, Tennessee.  His affinity for sports was evident in his daily life and there was always some sort of sports program on the television.  He also enjoyed attending the Blazer games on a regular basis with his late wife Vivian with season tickets and courtside seats. 

Curtis and Vivian were married on September 9, 1954 and their love was like that of a fairytale.  They had 5 children, and together they worked hard to provide a beautiful life for their family. In fact, in the 1960s, Curtis worked hard to become the first African-American home owner in Mt. Tabor, a prestigious neighborhood in SE Portland.

Curtis was very successful in his career.  He served in the US Army in the 1950s and worked as an x-ray technician, but all of this led him to a very successful career in real estate.   He became a real estate appraiser for HUD and started his own real estate appraisal business, “Williams Appraisals.” Everyone in the industry loved him for not only his charm and enthusiasm, but also his strong work ethic. He was known for a 72 hour turnaround which was unheard of in the industry and this brought him a consistent flow of new and returning clients. 

Curtis is preceded in death by his loving wife, Vivian and daughter, Jaqueline Williams.

He is survived by 3 siblings: Alfred Williams, Billy Williams, and Wilber Williams.  4 Children: Cheryl, Tyrone, Mark, and Vivian.  Grandchildren: Sarah, Joshua, Curtis, Cherise, Denise, Michelle. And several great grand children. 

He worked very hard and was an extraordinary business man.  All of his hard work payed off and afforded him opportunities to travel the world with his adoring wife Vivian, and their best friends Frankie and Dansby. They would often take European and tropical cruises together as friends, enjoying beautiful meals and staying in some of the most luxurious hotels in the world.  He drove beautiful cars, wore high end fashions, and celebrated his success in style. 

Although Curtis enjoyed the fruits of his labor, the most important thing in his life was his family.  Anyone who knew him would know that he was would give the shirt off of his back to anyone who needed it.  He enjoyed having a large family thanksgiving celebration each year, big barbeques for memorial day, and always insisted on a birthday cake for every birthday we celebrated.  The love of his life was his wife Vivian whom he cared for until her last breath and was known to write her beautiful and heartfelt love
letters.  They were married for 63 incredible years and stood as an example for what love and marriage is all about.

He was charming, giving, funny, an excellent cook, humble, successful, and had a laugh that could change the world.  He will live on forever in our hearts and we thank him for making a difference in each of our lives. Although we grieve at the loss of a man we loved and adored,  we are blessed to know that we will see him again in the presence of our Lord and savior.

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