Robert Max (Bob) Williams April 1, 1934–June 29, 2023

SUMMERFIELD – Bob Williams, born on April 1, 1934, loved joking about being an “April Fool.” He graduated from Greensboro (Grimsley) High School, where he loved playing football and earned the nickname “Hoss,” and later played football at Guilford College under Coach (and longtime friend) Herb Appenzeller, before serving in the U.S. Navy.

Bob married Sheila Vincent in 1960 and eventually opened three restaurants in downtown Greensboro. His years working on Elm Street fostered a desire to preserve the buildings and history in the downtown district where he grew up. He started a newspaper, the “Hamburger Square Post,” which focused on downtown happenings, and conceptualized the “Old Greensborough” project which focused on revitalizing the downtown district (for his work on revitalizing Old Greensborough, he received the “key to the city” from Mayor Jim Melvin).

Wanting to ring in the Bicentennial in 1976 in grand fashion, Bob conceptualized the Fun Fourth Festival and with the help of volunteers, brought the first festival to life. He was very proud that it continues today.

After retirement, Bob brought his passion for community service to Summerfield. He went door-to-door to garner support for incorporating the town of Summerfield, then volunteered on several town committees before being elected to the Town Council, eventually serving as mayor pro tem.

Bob was involved with renovating the historic Brittain Building that now serves as Summerfield Town Hall, and with creating Summerfield Community Park and Summerfield Athletic Park. For many years he also coordinated the annual Summerfield Founders’ Day parade.

Halloween was Bob’s absolute favorite time of year, and in the early 1970s he began hosting a Halloween Haunted Trail at his Summerfield home that welcomed thousands of attendees. The event later moved to one of his buildings on Elm Street, where “The Haunted Hotel” was born, and then to Summerfield Community Park as the “Petrified Woods.” His children carry on their father’s 52-year tradition by hosting an annual Halloween event for family and friends.

At 88, Bob started “Summerfield Goodfellows,” a gentleman’s coffee club for senior citizens. Besides enjoying fellowship, the group is currently working on several public safety projects.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Sheila, his four children, Kimberly Jackson (David), Lori Williams, Robert Max (Rob) Williams Jr., Thomas (Vince) Williams and his faithful canine friend, Molly. His pride and joy were his nine grandchildren, Parker, Reece (Sierra), Hunter, Greyson, Paxton, Krista, Brenna, Max III and Gage. He also adored his three great-grandsons, Anderson, Tucker and Kamren.

A funeral will be held at Center United Methodist Church on Thursday, July 6, at 11 a.m. The family will greet guests beginning at 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bob’s honor to Center United Methodist Church, 6142 Lake Brandt Road, Greensboro 27455, or Senior Resources of Guilford, 1401 Benjamin Parkway, Greensboro 27408.

Bob’s four children shared the following memories and thoughts about him....

“We spent our summers working in downtown Greensboro on various projects for Dad. We carried chairs, repaired windows, and even stripped the original O’Henry Hotel of all its heavy cherry doors and copper fire extinguishers before it was to be demolished. It seemed pointless to me to carry those old doors, but Dad soon used all of them to wrap a 1,600-squarefoot restaurant dining room in wainscoting. It was beautiful! He was a creative thinker, and a great father who taught us the meaning of a good work ethic.

“I specifically remember one day at the restaurant, watching him go table to table, talking and laughing with his guests. I thought to myself ‘I want to have my own business one day.’ I didn’t know what it would be or what owning a business was really about, but I just knew I wanted to enjoy customers the way he did.

“Soon after Dad’s passing, we came together to reminisce, laugh, and sometimes cry about all the wonderful things he brought to our lives. As children, we did not see that our upbringing was any different than others. But looking back at it today we realize how extraordinary and unique it was.”

Vince Williams, son

“Although my father did many amazing things for Greensboro and Summerfield, I think his greatest accomplishment was being a wonderful dad.

“When we were telling ghost stories at our slumber parties, Dad would either climb a ladder and tap on the window, or cut the power so that we had no lights, which would send us screaming into the other room.

“Movie posters lined the hallways of our basement that led to a home theater (before they were a thing) with a popcorn machine, theater seats and a film projector in a room behind them. Pulling a re-purposed car hood latch in a hall closet caused a panel to pop open, allowing access to a hidden room Dad built. There you could pick a film from a large selection and Dad would load it onto the projector for us. My favorite was ‘House on Haunted Hill.’ It had a scene that terrified me, and Dad would always stay with me through that scary part.

“It never ceased to amaze me how Dad could make something from nothing or saw value in things that others didn’t. That has been of great value to me in my business. He taught me many things, but I have to laugh because as I approach my 60s, the struggle to hold a flashlight steady is still present.”

Lori Williams, daughter

“I may have tested some boundaries a time or two… Dad taught me many lessons in my life, the most important of which were respect and responsibility.”

Rob Williams, son

“Dad always had a side hustle – like penny machines or trading cigars to officers to get leave to go and see Mom. He once opened a ‘flea market’ on Asheboro Street in downtown Greensboro which ran much like today’s antique malls. During this time, he started buying up property in downtown Greensboro. He was a visionary, and his vision was to make downtown Greensboro a place that people wanted to come back to – much like he remembered from his childhood and much like it is today.

“Halloween was his obsession. Once he bought a lot of items from a hospital auction that included theater seats, obstetrical tables, a hearse, coffins and a human skeleton the family lovingly named “Irving” – yes, we had a skeleton in our closet! It sounds bizarre today, but back then, I guess the hospital thought it was OK to just sell these things.

“While thinking about what to do with these items, he started renovating our basement into a movie theater where he delighted his kids and neighbors with movies for years.

“Dad thought it was great fun to take his kids to school in a hearse, or to dress up like the ‘Munsters’ and take the kids trick or treating in the hearse. He once even took Irving (the skeleton) to my class at Summerfield Elementary for show-and-tell (then-principal Jesse Joyce thought it was a hoot!)!

“Dad was an absolute pit bull when he felt passionate about something, and while it sometimes aggravated people, everyone knew he always held the best interest of others in the highest regard. His dream was to leave Summerfield citizens with a town they could be proud of.”

Kim Williams Jackson, daughter

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