Born on June 10, 1925 in Maryville, Tenn., John Edward Williams was the first child of Charles Ellis and Anna Elizabeth McCormick Williams. In September 1943, Williams began his military career at Fort Oglethorpe. He joined the Army Specialized Training Program in February 1944 hosted at the University of Kentucky. In the summer of 1944, Williams was shipped overseas to England, where he worked as a typist for the Army. He was a part of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On August 1, 1945, Williams received the Bronze Star; he also received the Good Conduct Medal. Williams served in places throughout Europe including England, France, and Germany until his return to the United States on April 13, 1946.

Williams would later go on to receive his Bachelor of Music degree in Organ from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in 1950. He received a Master of Music degree in Organ from the University of Michigan in 1951. Williams became a Fulbright Scholar to the Royal School of Church Music in 1954-1955. He also attended school in Germany and the University of Glasgow. After schooling, Williams moved to North Carolina where he was an instructor of music at Flora MacDonald College and St. Andrews Presbyterian College. Williams also served as the organist for the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church. Williams passed away on February 27, 1998, and is buried in Maryville, Tennessee.