Pre-K Program to Honor Lew Williams

A plan is in the works to honor Pinellas County School Board member Lew Williams, 68, who died unexpectedly Saturday after undergoing heart surgery earlier in the week.

The longtime educator was well liked. He began his career in 1970 and was known for his gentle but firm demeanor.

During Tuesday night's school board meeting, Pinellas County Schools Superintendent John Stewart announced plans to establish a prekindergarten program in Williams' honor called The Lew Williams Project.

"Lew Williams, you will be remembered in a very special way by all of us," Stewart said.

The program would help prepare kids ages 1-4 for school. Stewart wants to work with social service agencies to create the program, with the ultimate goal of making it a model program for the state.

"We need to find a way that we can honor this man because he stood for young people, he loved young people, made it his career, and he wanted to do something for every child, especially children who had difficulty with learning processes," Stewart said.

Williams was honored with a moment of silence, a prayer and a tribute video during Tuesday night's school board meeting. Some board members choked up when speaking about Williams; others wiped away tears.

"He spent his entire life working for the children that he loved, and with the passion that he felt for each and every one of them," Vice Chairman Carol Cook said. "His legacy will live on through every single child that his life has touched." 

Williams was one of board member Terry Krasner's professors when she was studying for her master's degree. 

"He emulated everything a leader should stand for and be. … He did mean so much to all of us, and I'm very very proud to have known him," Krasner said.

Peggy O'Shea met Williams 20 years ago. "He was a gentleman, always, regardless of the issue, regardless of what side you were on," she said. "He was the nicest man in the world to work with. He will be missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

School Board Chairman Robin Wikle read a poem she wrote in honor of Williams:

A Duty I Cannot Shrink

Elected in 2010, he worked with us ladies with style and chagrin,

When discussion went long or on the brink, he spoke up with quiet and calm instinct,

Remember, it's about the students, a duty we cannot shrink,

When student discussion would cease, we'd talk fishing at great lengths, 

Mr. Williams, why not retire and fish off the bank?

Miss Wikle, students still need me, a duty I can not shrink,

Your legacy is long, Mr. Williams, but my time with you is brief, 

So this discussion may still veer off course and again be too long in length,

May we remember as you lean forward with your quiet strength, saying, "Hey, it's about the students, a duty you can not shrink."

May it be a duty we cannot shrink.

- Robin Wikle, Pinellas County School Board Chairman

A public viewing for Williams will be held 3-5 p.m. Friday at Lawson Funeral Home, 4535 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 

The wake will be 7-8 p.m. Friday at Bethel Community Baptist Church, 2901 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 

Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, 1045 16th St. S, St. Petersburg