Sgt. Maj. Williamson, formerly of Norfolk, passed away on Friday at Wake Medical Center, Raleigh, after a brief illness. Sgt. Maj. Williamson served over thirty years with the 111th Field Artillery Regiment, VARNG, and is assigned the distinction of Distinguished Member of the Regiment. Sgt. Maj. Williamson, along with other members of the 29th Infantry Division, were awarded the “Croix De Guerre” by the President of France for their landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Sgt. Maj. Williamson was awarded the Bronze Star with V for his actions in February, 1945, during the assault at and beyond the Roer River. After returning to the US at the end of WW II, Sgt. Maj. Williamson served in the 111 Field Artillery Regiment until retirement in 1971. In 1985, Sgt. Maj. Williamson joined the newly formed Virginia Defense Force and served as Command Sgt. Maj. of the Lafayette Brigade. Upon his retirement in 1997, Sgt. Maj. Williamson was awarded the Virginia Defense Force Distinguished Service Medal by Major General Robert C. Dechert for his over fifty years of faithful service to his state and nation. “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away”.

Sgt. Maj. Williamson was preceded in death by his parents Percy V. and Mary O. Williamson, Norfolk, and his sister, Frances Allcox, Wendell, NC.

Sgt. Maj. Williamson is survived by his nephews, Irvin Allcox, Wendell, NC, and Sherwood Allcox, Clinton, NC; and niece, Sherry Swartout, Panama City Beach, FL. Sgt. Maj. Williamson is a member of American Legion Post 0148, Wendell, NC.

Graveside funeral service with full Military Honors conferred will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.