GEORGE NEWS - The passing of Oudtshoorn Magistrate Graehýmme Williams leaves a big void in George and the Southern Cape community. Williams died from lung cancer at his home on 25 April.
He was born in Mossel Bay in 1967 as the son of the late Joseph and Maggie Williams. He was a freedom fighter and was arrested by the security branch of the SA Police Service.
While incarcerated he continued his studies, after which he was a teacher for a year in 1989. He reinvented himself and changed his name to Graehýmme Jesus in 1988.
He returned to university and completed his LLB in 1994, doing his articles in Kuils River, Cape Town. Williams worked at Geduld Attorneys in George from 1994 until 2002 when he started his own practice.
He acted as magistrate in Bloemfontein in 2017 and when the bench bug bit, it was the only thing he wanted to do from then on. In 2021 he was appointed permanently as magistrate in Oudtshoorn where he stayed until his death.
"Graehýmme was diagnosed with lung cancer early last year, but he kept on working till October when he could no longer walk by himself. He was passionate about his work. He was a hardworking, focused person and his colleagues spoke fondly of him," says his wife, Charlene.
"He loved helping people and did community work in Mossel Bay at the D'Almeida Civic Organisation and Bo Fletcher Foundation. He also started a community outreach in Oudtshoorn during the short time he worked there. He also loved travelling."
Williams was furthermore involved in local rugby as the presiding officer for the disciplinary committee of the SWD Rugby Union. From 2014 he chaired their appeals committee.
He was also the Registrar of the Anglican Diocese of George.
Williams authored two books, The painful ramifications of the South African Democracy (first published in 2016), and Judicial manual for presiding officers and legal practitioners (Criminal Law), published in 2020.
He leaves behind his wife, a 10-year-old daughter, a brother and a sister. A memorial was held in Mossel Bay on 2 May by his friends and community leaders. His funeral service was held on 3 May at St Mark's Cathedral in George. The Oudtshoorn Court held a memorial service and handing over of his robe ceremony on 4 May at the court.
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