Jerry Louis McWilliams of Tuscaloosa, Alabama passed away September 7, 2024, at Hospice of West Alabama. He was 88. Jerry was born on January 29, 1936, to William and Geraldine McWilliams in Monroe, Louisiana. While living in Monroe, he attended Neville High School where he was the star running back and was voted most athletic his senior year. After graduation, he was offered a full scholarship to LSU but turned it down because he wanted to marry the love of his life, Barbara Ann. Jerry worked to put himself through school and graduated from Northeast Louisiana State with a B.S. degree in mathematics.
After graduation and starting a family, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1967. There he worked for Boeing on the Apollo 11 mission, which was the project which landed men on the moon. Jerry helped develop an improved computer program to solve heat transfer analysis problems. His primary work was on the heat shield which safely returned the astronauts to earth. This accomplishment is recognized in the Apollo/Saturn V Roll of Honor which can be found in the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institute. He later worked for Intergraph on Federal Programs related to national security until his retirement at the early age of 55. Jerry and his wife Barbara were members of First United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
All who knew Jerry have described him as the nicest and most gracious man you could ever meet and the epitome of a southern gentleman. Jerry loved playing golf, working on his model airplanes, running, reading, spending time with his grandchildren and watching Alabama football.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Geraldine McWilliams; sister, Joyce Ray; and his wife of 66 years, Barbara Ann Kelso McWilliams.
He is survived by two daughters, Debbie Breeden (Bob) of Winchester, TN and Leslie Davis (Ken) of Tuscaloosa, AL; four grandchildren, Courtney Konstalid (Kevin) of Tuscaloosa, AL, Kate Huddleston (Stephen) of High Springs, FL, Will Elliott (Erin) of Madison, AL, and Adam Elliott (Victoria) of Birmingham, AL; 7 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Carolyn Smyrl of Austin, TX, Jo Ann Seigler (Guille) of Paris, TX and Kathleen Jackson of Tyler, TX; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
We would like to give a special thanks to all the wonderful staff and nurses in Traditions Way at Capstone Village for loving our daddy and taking such great care of him and also to Dr. Brian Wilhite and Hospice of West Alabama.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama with Reverend Coy Hallmark officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hospice of West Alabama.
