Anthony Zeb Williams

Anthony (Tony) Zeb Williams Sr., also known as "Big Tone", went to be with the Lord on January 21, 2022. He accepted Christ at an early age. Tony was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on December 20, 1965 along with his twin sister, Lisa Michelle to Zeb Sheppard and Ruth Williams. He attended Kalamazoo Public Schools and graduated from Kalamazoo Old Central. He worked many jobs but had to stop working due to a heart condition.

Tony loved his family, he would often have cook outs and gatherings with family and friends to show off his barbecue skills. He loved to play cards with his loved ones. He loved his R&B music. He was a loud talker, a jokester. He would make you mad, but he would tell the truth. He was a giant, but gentle as a dove. Tony was a people person and would make you laugh with his jokes. Tony enjoyed life and wanted to see others enjoy life also. He looked after the neighborhood (Staples Ave.) families since he was young. Tony had a giving heart. If he seen an unmet need he would help you out and would give you his last. When someone passed in the family, he would be there to look after their children. Tony was loved and will be truly missed by all who loved him.

Tony was preceded in death by his father, Zeb Sheppard; maternal grandmother Blanche Williams; maternal grandfather Rufus Ivy; great grandfather Bennie Owens; great grandmother Lula Moore Owens; maternal great grandparent Alex and Mary Ivy; paternal grandmother Julia Burns (Cooper) and Charles Sheppard; parental great grandfather George Nelson Burns Sr., and great grandmother Sallie Mae (Carter); brothers Tyrone Sheppard; and Timothy Cox; aunts Essie Williams and Doris Ivy; niece Nakia Payton.

He is survived by his loving mother Ruth Williams of Kalamazoo, MI; sons Anthony Zeb Williams Jr. and Jayvon Williams of Columbus, Ohio; son Zaron Tate of Kalamazoo, MI; daughter Kierra Williams and three grandchildren Keidyn, Kennadi and KarTazion Williams of Kalamazoo, MI; a special daughter Tondra Smith of Columbus, OH, great aunt Corine Green of Kalamazoo, MI; aunts; Geraldine Ivy Williams of Kalamazoo, MI, Annie Cornwell of Las Vegas; Patricia Davis and Barbara Jean Fisher of Memphis, TN; uncle: John Sanders of Chicago, IL; stepmother Fannie Sheppard of Kalamazoo, MI; siblings: 5 sisters: Sheree and Lisa Williams, Julia Sheppard, Karen (Larry) Gray, Carla Sheppard of Kalamazoo, MI, Kimberly Waters (Lance) of Virginia Beach, VA, Dana Arbor of Flint, MI, sisters in love Renee Whitfield and Yolanda Hood; 2 brothers: Johnny Williams and Ronald (Grace) Sheppard, and special nephews Tyrone Sheppard, Arrington Sheppard and Mykail Ballard and special nieces Charmanie Hunter, Jytisha Streeter, Jaquana Williams, Nikitah Whittaker, LaToya Sheppard, Terrecia Sheppard, Damesha Sheppard; Honorary Pallbearers nephews Trey' Vaughn Williams, Roemontoe Williams, Tyrone Sheppard Jr., Arrington Sheppard, Tyrell Sheppard, Tyrein Sheppard, Tyreese Whitfield, Jimmie Streeter, Dominique Whittaker, Brodrick Black, Dewayne Williams Jr., Kareem Williams, Jaleel Williams, Bretye Coleman, Kristofer Ivery, Marcus Ivery and many more great nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may meet the family from 5:00-7:00pm Monday, January 31 at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, 622 S. Burdick, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Services will be held at 11:00am Tuesday, February 1 at Galilee Baptist Church, 1216 N. Westnedge with family hour from 10:30-11:00am. Interment will follow in Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. To view Tony's personalized webpage please visit https://www.langelands.com