Frederick (“Rick”) Ballard Williams, III, was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather who worked tirelessly to make the world a better place through his long and fruitful career in the field of international affairs. He passed away unexpectedly on October 24, 2021.

Born September 9, 1940, in Newark, New Jersey, to parents Frederick Ballard Williams, Jr., and Katherine Hawkes Williams, Rick went on to earn an M.A. and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Illinois. He became an expert in the management and evaluation of government programs – primarily those that aimed to benefit the poor in developing nations – while working for the U.S. Department of State, the Peace Corps, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency, and the U.N. agency administering to the needs of Palestinian refugees, among others.

Rick raised two wonderful sons, Todd and Jeffrey, with his first wife Marcia (Oakhill) Williams. After being widowed in 2004, he met and married Mary Lou (Humphrey) Thomas; they divided their time between homes in Carmel, California, and Alpharetta, Georgia. A lifelong Christian Scientist with a deep faith in the goodness of God, Rick was a committed church member and attendee. He enjoyed keeping fit with daily walks in Point Lobos State Reserve when in Carmel, and was an avid fan of World Cup Soccer, the Tour de France, college basketball, and the NFL.

Rick is survived by his wife Mary Lou; daughter-in-law Maraka; stepdaughters Jennifer and Jessica and their husbands; sister Marcy and her husband; niece and nephew Beth and Steve and their families; and beloved grandchildren Taylor, Mason, Jackson, Keelin, and Corin.