Grafton Norvanda Williams, 82

CRISFIELD - Grafton Norvanda Williams was born Feb. 17, 1924, in Crisfield and departed this life Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, at McCready Hospital in Crisfield. He was the son of the late Albert Williams and Adeline Trantham.

He was educated in the public schools of Somerset County and served in the United States Army in Missouri. Grafton was formerly employed at the Crisfield Police Department, Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, Patuxent Correctional Institution, Rubberset Co. and the Somerset County Sheriff"s Department.

He was an entrepreneur and the Grand Marshal in the National Hard Crab Derby for more than 34 years in Crisfield.

He was preceded in death by one son, William M. Washington; two grandsons, John Day Jr. and Brian Williams; four brothers, Norris Williams, Ernest Bell, Leon Johnson and Freddie Johnson; his stepfather, James Trantham; and two sisters, Lillie Chadwick and Sarah Allen.

He leaves to mourn a wife, Azinith Bell Williams of Crisfield; one brother, Alfred Williams of Bridgeton, N.J.; two sisters, Mable Allen of Pennsylvania and Gladys Nicholes of Bridgeton; six sons, Grafton Williams Jr. of Crisfield, Quinten Williams of Hagerstown, Md., Donald Williams (Kathy) of Lampasa, Texas, Michael (Karen) and Mitchell Sterling, all of Baltimore, and Ivan Lankford of College Park, Md.; eight daughters, Ann Johnson (Samuel) of Upper Hill, Adalyn Tilghman (Harold) of Salisbury, Cynthia Williams and Lynette Cullen of Crisfield, Selena Maddox of Marion, Barbara Washington-Smalling of Prince Georges County, Md., Diane Washington-White (Albert) of Princess Anne and Marvel Wedington of Raleigh, N.C.; 38 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held noon Saturday at Crisfield High School.