Benjamin Atticus Williams III, 68, of Hampton died at home on November 15, 2014, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was the son of Benjamin Atticus Williams Jr. and Corinne Millikin Williams and was raised in Southampton County. He graduated from the College of William & Mary and Washington & Lee University School of Law. He was a resident of Hampton since 1972. Although not a Hampton native, he was an advocate for the city and served for many years as a member and Chairman of the Hampton Industrial Development Authority. He was named the state's "Economic Development Volunteer of the Year" by the Virginia Economic Developers Association in 2000. He proudly served on many other boards for educational and charitable organizations, including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Virginia Living Museum, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hampton Roads Academy. Mr. Williams practiced law for over thirty years for what is now the firm of Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein. He then worked as CEO of Basic, Inc. of Newport News. He was a long-time member of the James River Country Club and an avid golfer and fisherman, as well as a talented chef. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Sundin Williams of Hampton; his daughter, Johanna Williams Roberts and her husband, Brian Joseph Roberts of San Francisco; his son, Benjamin Hunter Williams and his fiancé, Lynette Amaris Esponda of Norfolk; his brother, Dr. Robert Bruce Williams and his wife, Helen Ball Williams of Richmond; and three grandchildren, Davis, Carter and Corinne Roberts of San Francisco. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at First United Methodist Church, on Queen Street in Hampton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the William & Mary Athletic Education Foundation or your favorite charity or cause.