Charles Edgar McWilliams, Judge
Jul 12, 1890 - Feb 11, 1971

Memorial to C. E. McWilliams
Texas Bar Journal, Sept. 22, 1971

Charles Edgar McWilliams, 80-year-old retired Corsicana attorney, died Feb 11, 1971.

Admitted to the Texas bar in 1920, Judge McWilliams practiced solely in Corsicana, where he was for some time associated in the practice of law with W. W. Harris.

He served as county judge of Navarro County during 1933-37, before forming the Taylor and McWilliams law partnership which ended in 1948.   Judge McWilliams joined the law firm of Roe and Ralston that same year, and was associated with them until his retirement in 1960.

His professional memberships included the Navarro County Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas.

Born July 12, 1890 in Powell in Navarro County, Judge McWilliams was educated in rural schools in Bazette and Powell.  He went to Sam Houston Normal Institute in 1911 and then taught school for the next two years.   Returning to college, this time at Southwest Texas Normal School, Judge McWilliams received his degree on May 25, 1914.

Judge McWilliams studied law at Blackstone Institute, Chicago, Ill., and earned his degree in law in 1920.

He was the son of the late John Mordecai McWilliams, a flotorial representative for Navarro, Henderson, and Freestone Counties.

During World War I, Judge McWilliams enlisted in the armed services and was sent to Officers Training School at Camp McArthur, Texas.

In Corsicana, Judge McWilliams was a member of the American Legion, Rotary Club, Salvation Army Board, Navarro County Welfare Board and the Selective Service System Board (1940-46), and he was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias.  He was also a golf enthusiast and belonged to the Corsicana Country Club.

His church was the Church of Christ.

Survivors are his wife, Mrs. C. E. McWilliams, 1820 Maplewood, Corsicana; two daughters, Mrs. Morris H. Stevens, Little Rock, Ark., and Mrs. Jack Baggett, Corsicana; a sister, Miss Annie R. McWilliams, Corsicana; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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Former County Judge Dies; Rites Saturday

C. E. McWilliams, 80, retired attorney and former county judge, died late Thursday in Memorial Hospital after and extended illness.

He served as county judge of Navarro county from 1931-1934 and had been called affectionately “Judge McWilliams” from that point throughout his life and long legal career. He retired as a partner and practicing attorney from the firm of Roe, Ralston and McWilliams in 1963. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Navarro County and State Bar Association.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Corley Funeral Chapel. Dr. Ambrose Edens, professor of Bible at TCU, and Leathel Roberts, pastor of College Hill Church of Christ, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery.

He is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Jack A. Baggett of Corsicana and Mrs. M. H. Stevens of Little Rock, Ark.; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and a sister, Miss Annie McWilliams of Corsicana.

Pallbearers will be Wesley Edens, Hugh Stewart, Curtis Patterson, Jerry Roe, David Ralston, W. W. Harris, David Brown and Hoyt Moore.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Navarro County Bar Association.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Feb 12, 1971
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Lola Mae (Stover) McWilliams married Jun. 27, 1926; s/o John Mordecai McWilliams and Mary Ann Elizabeth (Albritton) McWilliams buried in Prairie Point cemetery

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McWilliams Rites

Funeral services were held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Corley Funeral Chapel for C. E. McWilliams, 80, retired attorney and former county judge who died Thursday after and extended illness. Dr. Ambrose Edens, TCU professor of Bible, and Leathal Roberts, Church of Christ minister, officiated. Burial was in Oakwood cemetery.

“Judge” McWilliams was associated for many years as a partner in the law firm of Roe, Ralston and McWilliams until his retirement in 1963. He served as Navarro county judge from 1931-34.

He is survived by his widow, two daughters, four grandchildren, one great-grandchild and one sister.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Feb 14, 1971
• Submitted by Diane Richards