It is with a heavy heart that HoustonNewsToday senior reporter and assistant editor Clarence Walker announces the passing of Billy Williams, a dedicated public servant, a close friend and an emblem of courage, who drifted into eternal sleep on July 23, 2025 at his home in Houston following a lengthy illness.
Born on December 7, 1941 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, the home of Cane River, Billy’s professional journey in life began when he joined the Houston Police Department (HPD) as a cadet in class#35. He joined the academy during a time when police officers were often viewed as gun-toting enemies by the Black and Mexican communities.
His legacy is one of resilience and remembrance of the 60’s and 70’s cultural era in the bayou city of Houston. Williams’ likeable and down-to-earth personality forged amicable relationships with fellow officers, people in the community including those he arrested on drug charges who revered him as a respected figure not just in law enforcement but also in the people he met and the lives he touched.
Retired HPD officer and former elected Harris County Constable for Precinct#7 May Walker featured Williams in her published book: History of Black Police Officers in the Houston Police Department, 1878-1988.
“He respected me, and I respected him, but when Stringfellow left the scene, Billy Williams had a big name on the streets,” said Johnny Binder, one of Houston’s popularly known ex-drug players in the game when Williams and his younger partner, a female named Christy Love busted dealers left and right.
“When we raided different places, Johnny Binder refused to let white officers search him. So, he would say, ‘I’ll let Officer Williams search me, but you can’t. I trust Officer Williams, I don’t trust you,'” Williams quoted Binder saying on more than a few occasions many years ago. Binders’ extension of unfettered trust in Williams only exemplifies the respect that Binder and many people had for the Louisiana native.
“I’d been retired for many years and when people see me at different places like on OST at Club Reminisce, Turning Point Club or the Speakeasy where I socialize, talking with friends and shooting pool, people would think I was still working undercover and try to give me information on a dope dealer.,” Williams once told this reporter, while cackling a laugh.
“I was tough on dealers when I needed to be. But I tried my best to be fair.”
Retired Houston Police Sgt Robert Brady was at a loss for words to speak about Williams. Brady worked undercover narcotic cases with Williams during the 70s’ and early 80s’, prior to promotion to sergeant. “Billy was a good friend, a partner, someone you could depend on and he was loyal. Referring to Proverbs 18:24, which says, ‘A man of many companions may come to ruin, But there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.'”
Billy Williams was that kind of friend to Brady. “He was closer than a brother,” Brady said, ending his conversation with the thought that so many officers who were friends he’d worked with had gone on home to glory. Brady retired from Houston Police Fondren Station in 2006.
“Billy Williams treated me like I was his best friend. I loved that man,” retired Houston Police Homicide Sergeant and former Chief Deputy for Harris County Precinct#1 Constable Office J.C. Mosier told Houston News Today. “We were in the same academy class#35. I hung around him and Stringfellow every chance I could when I worked nights on patrol in the Third Ward.”
“People like Billy and other black officers had a tough time during the civil rights era,” Mosier explained. “They were called unflattering names by people in the black communities.”
“J.C. was always a cool white boy to talk with,” Williams vividly remembers. “He didn’t act like the other guys who acted like they didn’t like certain people. I liked J.C. He was alright with me.”
Beyond his silver badge, Billy was a devoted family man. He cherished his role as a husband, often expressing gratitude for the love and support of his wife, Margie. Together, they built a home filled with love, warmth, and unwavering support. As a father, Billy loved his children, imparting the best wisdom. He took pride in helping them to be the best he could.
See also:Â Houston Police Department History
Drugs, Equal Opportunity Destroyer of Human Lives
Throughout many Black neighborhoods in Houston drug dealing often led to cycles of violence, poverty, death and despair. Williams and E.J. Stringfellow recognized the urgent need to combat the scourge, threatening to choke the life out of the bright future of young blacks who fell prey to its clutches. Their resolve to eradicate drug dealing was rooted in a deep moral conviction.
Williams worked tireless hours on the streets of Houston tracking down major drug players during his career as an undercover narcotic officer along with other highly regarded narcotic officers such as the legendary E.J. Stringfellow, Bennie Alcorn, Joe Landrum, Reuben Anderson and Charley Webb. Williams said he welcomed the opportunity to work dope investigations with younger narc officers like Robert Brady, Roy Ferguson, Roy Diaz, Christy Love, Billy Banks and Mike Landry.
“Billy Williams was a legend,” said retired HPD sergeant Mike Landry. Landry also worked on narcotic cases with Williams. “We went into some of the most dangerous areas of Houston like the Pearl Harbor section of Lyons Avenue in the Bloody 5th Ward to bust heroin dope dealers,” Landry recalled. “I was to stupid to know better.”
“People on the streets knew Billy and respected him.”
Lee Hampton, a former owner of A-Better Bonding Company who graduated from St. Matthew high school with Williams in Natchitoches spoke glowingly of the former lawman.
“Billy was family. We grew up together like brothers. Whenever you saw him, he was always the same, friendly, always willing to help another person. I loved him like a brother.”
When asked how he perceived his lifelong friend once he became a police officer at a time when racial tensions dominated the landscape between the police and the Black and Latino communities Hampton recalled telling Williams, “Somebody from Louisiana got to find a way to make it here in Houston.”
A Unique Perspective
Black police officers often bring a unique perspective to their roles. Either growing up or having lived in the same neighborhoods where they worked, the ones who truly care have a deep understanding of the challenges their communities face. Officers like Williams and Stringfellow are not just enforcers of the law; they were also mentors, role models, and advocates for change.
“If young girls or boys run away from home their parents would tell Stringfellow, ‘please help to find and bring my child back home,” Williams stated in a voice tinged with a hint of emotion. “We helped find them. We were glad to help.”
Williams knew that he and fellow officers couldn’t stop the flow of drugs into the black communities yet at least they’d served their tour of street duty and committed to doing their part arresting as many narco dealers as possible.
Never Gave Up On Having a Better Life
Aside from experiencing all the negativism from people who passionately disliked Black cops, Williams persevered and continued to move through the ranks. He started off as a car attendant in the HPD fleet unit on July 19, 1960. Then, after encouragement from older officers, Williams joined academy class#35 on May 1, 1967.
“We helped make Billy a police officer,” Sam Roy once told this author. “We got him out of the car garage where he was fixing flats at the HPD station.” Roy had been an HPD officer and the first black lieutenant with the Harris County Sheriff Department under Jack Heard.
As time passed, Williams had been assigned to Central Division patrol, Narcotics, Criminal Intelligence Division, Southeast Division, Records Division, and the Emergency Communications Division until his retirement on January 31, 1992.
Williams realized the Houston Police Department needed changing for the very much better due to blatant racism against black and latino officers. Author Dwight Watson writes in his book, Race and the Houston Police Department, 1930-1990;
“As the city and nation transitioned from segregation to integration, the HPD, deeply entrenched in the status quo, resisted change. This led to heightened tensions and strains between the police and the Black community, evidenced by events like the 1967 police actions at Texas Southern University and the 1971 Dowling Street Shoot-Out.”
Systemic Racism and Delayed Progress
Watson further argued that the HPD became an obstacle to racial integration due to its history of entrenched racism. While progress was eventually made, including the appointment of Lee P. Brown as the first Black police chief, the history of racism within the department was undeniable at the time.
Upon joining the Houston Police Department, Williams encountered racism not only from the public but also from some of his colleagues. Despite the prejudice he faced, he remained undeterred. Williams understood that his role as a police officer was not just about enforcing the law; it was about building trust and understanding within the community. He believed that by excelling in his duties, he could change perceptions and pave the way for future officers of color.
Conclusion
During our threads of life as the threads slowly unravel some shine brighter than others, weaving a story that transcends time. Billy Williams, a former cop, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, is one such thread.
Though his body may have departed from this world, his spirit continues to inspire and uplift those who had the privilege of knowing him. This feature story is a tribute to the memory of the man who devoted his life to serving others, and whose legacy lives on in the hearts of many.
Obituary: Obituary | BILLIE M WILLIAMS of HOUSTON, Texas | FRAZIER-MITCHELL FUNERAL SERVICE
“I will miss him until I meet him again,” Mosier lamented.
Clarence Walker is a senior reporter and the assistant editor for Houston News Today.com He can be reached at houstonnewstoday@yahoo.com
