Max Warren Williams

Max Warren Williams passed away peacefully on October 14, 2025, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. A memorial service of the witness to the Resurrection and Celebration of his life will be at 3pm on October 26, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church in Oxford, MS. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 1pm in the Fellowship Hall of the church. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A native of Corinth, he excelled both in academics and athletics, particularly baseball, where as a junior he pitched a no-hitter against Tupelo in the state championship playoffs. A subsequent football injury to the shoulder that fall ended any hopes of a baseball journey after high school. It was in eighth grade he met the love of his life, Nila, where the start of an incredible life long journey of love, marriage, and teamwork would begin. Though originally destined for Mississippi State (to be close to Nila at the ‘W’, or course), an unexpected selection into the second class of the Carrier Scholars program at Ole Miss forever changed his plans in directing him to long and wonderful life of college, work, family, and service in his beloved Oxford. He and Nila married that following year in 1958. At Ole Miss he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and received dual majors in mathematics and sociology, followed a few years later by post-graduate work at Vanderbilt University, where he received his Ph.D. in Sociology with emphasis in demography and urban planning. They returned to Oxford in 1968 to join the faculty in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and help found the Center for Population Research Studies, where he was Director until his retirement in 2002. In 1980 he was appointed by the Governor to coordinate the U.S. Bureau of Census Data Program for Mississippi and later, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Public Data Users Center in Washington, D.C. As a product of his impeccable work with these agencies, he was appointed Special Master and Consultant to the US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi where he was involved in many voting rights cases as well as consultant to the Joint Commission on Reapportionment and Redistricting by the Mississippi Legislature. He published numerous monographs and articles in conjunction with presentations before Demographic groups across the United States and in Europe.

Beyond the boundaries of his career, he has always remained dedicated to the care of nurturing of those in his life, to those underserved, and to those in his community. He served as board member for several years during the beginnings of the Oxford Housing Authority, helping navigate challenges faced in the early 1970’s with affordable housing. He was active in various capacities of First Presbyterian Church in Oxford, serving as member and clerk of the Session, and on various committees of the St. Andrews Presbytery and local fundraising initiatives.

Remaining a huge sports fan throughout his life, of both St. Louis Cardinals baseball and all things Ole Miss, he gave service to the athletics department as faculty rep to the Ole Miss Athletics Committee, serving as Chairman from 1983 until 1997. His interest and dedication to ethics and integrity in sports led him serving on the Eligibility Committee of the NCAA as well as on the Executive Committee as well as Secretary of the Conference for the SEC. He had a deep love for Ole Miss and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, vice president of the Governing Board of the UMAA Foundation, the Ventress Order, and Chancellor’s Trust.

Teaching always remained an important part of his calling, not just in the classroom but through the life lessons he gave beyond the didactics that helped young adults find their true passions and inspiration on their paths in life – at crucial times when life goals are often unclear. His advice was always practical and concise, making the complex simple, and usually spot on. He always had a calming and relatable spirit, though never held back offering hard truths through blankets of support. Generous with his time for his students, he was awed in being the ‘old professor’ who still managed to dominate the ping pong table against the various athletes who dared to challenge him to a match. His compassion for others, devotion to service, and sense of humor through adversity left an amazing mark and example not only for his students but for his children and grandchildren as well.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nila Qualls Williams, of Oxford, a son, Dr. Ernest Q. Williams and wife, Machelle, of Oxford; a daughter, Emeline S. Williams of Oxford; six grandchildren, Mary Shields Hunter (Sam) of Hernando, MS, Rachel Sahlein of W. Hollywood, CA, Erik Sahlein of Palm Desert, CA, Max Williams of Charleston, SC, Brooks Williams of Asheville, NC, Olivia Williams of Oxford; two great grandchildren, Anne Stribling Hunter and Charles Davis Hunter of Hernando. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Louise Williams, and one brother, Charles Williams, of Corinth.

The family has asked that expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Dr. Williams’ memory be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 924 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655, or the University of Mississippi Foundation, PO Box 249 University, MS 38677.