Son of former Willows man dies

Local residents did what they could to make life a little easier for a for a former Willows resident as his infant son was dying.

About $4,000 was donated by people in the Willows community and sent to Adam Williams, 35, a Willows High graduate, and his wife Candice, in Blairsville, Ga., according Adam Williams' aunt, Lisa Davis, of Willows.

Their son, Collin Aubrey Lee Williams, died July 21, 20 days after his first birthday.

Services were held Saturday at the North Mt. Zion Church of God in Hiawassee, Ga.

Collin was diagnosed in February with Krabbe Disease, a rare, inherited degenerative neurological disorder of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

It can only be passed on to a child when both parents are carriers of the gene.

Davis said "Little Collin" was only given two months to live, "but he made it this far."

Making the tragedy harder on the family, Adam's father, Aubrey Lee Williams, and his brother, John Miles Williams, were killed in a car accident in December.

Hearing the news about Collin and the financial struggles his parents were going through sent people's hands into their pockets.

The money helped the family pay utility bills, buy food and other essentials and put gas in the car to the make the two-hour trek to the Atlanta Children's Hospital for appointments, Davis said.

"The family of Adam Williams would like to sincerely thank everyone who generously gave donations. It made a huge impact on this family," they said in a statement.

Davis said she and her nephew's family "were overwhelmed by people's generosity."

She also said there's a "silver lining" to the story. Candice and Adam Williams' 3-year-old son was tested for Krabbe Disease. It showed he is a carrier, but does not have the deadly illness.

Word came about two weeks before Collin's death, Davis said.

Collin is survived by his parents who said, "mommy and daddy will love you forever."

Other survivors are Collin's brothers, Jacob and Gavin; grandparents, Bev and Bo Crawford of Willows, Angelia and Tommy Matheson of Viroqua, Wis., and Kathleen and Donald Anderson of Hiawassee; several aunts, uncles, cousins and many other relatives and friends.