J.D & Christy Williams

Children:

-Samantha

-Jo

-Cody

-Johnny

-Mary Cate

-Grace Maire

Home Parish:

Saint John the Evangelist-Warrenton, VA

I was born a poor Share Cropper’s son. Oops, I am saving that one for when I run for Congress.

Actually, I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1959 to Paul and Marilyn Williams as dad was about to begin his junior year at the University of Georgia. Dad went on to be ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister and in 1967 he re-entered the Navy as a Chaplain. Life as a Navy dependent afforded me the opportunity to see and experience plenty. Every three or four years we would transfer from Virginia, to California, back to Virginia, etc.

In 1977, I graduated from Twenty-nine Palms High School in California’s Mojave Desert, and left home to join the Marine Corps. After three months in the swamps of Parris Island, S.C., and a couple of months at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Artillery school, the Corps sent me back to Twenty-nine Palms where I was assigned to the 1st Field Artillery Group (Force Troops), and later with the 4th Battalion, 11th Marines. Two years later, I was transferred to the 3rd Marine Division (aka Okinawa) where I was assigned to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines. This was my first time overseas and it was a great experience.

After a year on the rock, I was assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. This was best two years I had ever had and I was able to visit numerous ports throughout the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Seas.

I finished up my life as a Marine at Camp Lejeune, N.C. in 1984 after having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

The next phase of my life began in Blacksburg, Virginia where I attended Virginia Tech, majoring in Animal Science. While there, I met and fell head over heals in love with a young Horticulture student named Christy Garneau. I was a Baptist and Christy was a Catholic and we did not know what to do, so we punted and were married by the Justice of the Peace in Christiansburg, VA in 1987.

Upon graduation, we returned to Christy’s home in Fauquier County and built a house. Eventually, I sought a local church for us to attend (and an opportunity to save Christy by having her convert to being Baptist). I prayed that this would happen and just when I thought I could get Christy to make the change, God showed up. On the Sunday I thought we would join the local Baptist church, the pastor was out sick, and a substitute minister filled in for him. The guest minister dedicated his entire sermon to criticizing the evil Catholic Church and telling anti-Catholic jokes.

Christy was crying and I felt ashamed. Later that week, I told Christy to take the kids to St. John’s. I didn’t have to tell her twice. After a few weeks I started to go with her, and with so many questions, I began attending “Inquiry” with Deacon Bernie Ragan on Monday nights and eventually joined the RCIA program. In December 1998, Christy and I had our marriage blessed in the Catholic Church. In 1999, I was received into the Church and Christy was confirmed. Our two oldest kids were received into the Church in 2000. Since then we have added three “Cradle Catholics.” Christy and I are Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Christy is the President of the Junior Legion of Mary at St. John’s and our kids are active with the different youth groups.

Today, I am in my 10th year as a Police Officer with the Federal Protective Service of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security.