02 February 2024 Final

could be felt anytime he attended
an event as he was
sure to greet you with a big
smile, a firm handshake, or
a warm hug. LMA was more
than just a member association
when he was around.
It felt like a family.
“Everyone talks about how
wonderful someone was
when they pass, but in every
single aspect that was
true of Jimmy,” said Gonzales
Mayor Barney Arceneaux.
“My smile lit up just by him walking into a room, and
everything was just better when he was around. We are
privileged to meet so many colleagues in this profession,
but along the way, we also meet true friends. Jimmy was
Blessings
a true friend, and the missing
of him will hurt for a long
time to come.”
Walter Lippmann, writer,
reporter, and political commentator
said, “The final test
of a leader is that he leaves
behind him in other men
the conviction and the will
to carry on.” The following
letter from Mayor Williams is
from his President’s Message
as printed in the November
2019 issue of the Louisiana
Municipal Review aptly titled, “Blessings.” If he were given
the opportunity to bid us all farewell and leave us with
the conviction and the will to carry on, it would probably
sound a lot like this:
As I sit in the hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas,
while receiving treatment for Multiple Myeloma, I reflect
back on our founding fathers. They knew that God
had blessed them, so they had a feast to honor Him
for the blessing. Then I began to think of my very own
blessings that I have received from God.
I was blessed by and thankful to the good Lord for
having Christian parents. They taught my brother and
me about Christ and the value of my name. I can still
hear their voices repeating “Always treat others as you
would have them treat you.” My brother has always
been my hero. We were in business together for 45
years. He was such a great blessing while teaching me
and showing by example. God also gave me a wonderful,
kind, caring, and giving Christian lady to spend
my life with. Suzanne, my devoted wife, has continued
to be by my side in all my endeavors, professional
and personal, for 36 years. God has made it possible
for Suzanne and me to have three great kids that I am
truly proud of! They have grown into loving adults
and parents.
The people who work for the Town of Sibley are awesome,
not just employees but a family. Since I have
been away for treatment for some eight weeks, they
have pulled double duty to see that the town continues
to run properly in my absence. I have been moved
by the number of our citizens asking about and praying
for me. By being mayor of the greatest Town of
Sibley, I got involved with the Louisiana Municipal Association.
Never, in my dreams, did I think that I would
ever become President of this organization - an organization
that helps municipalities within the state of
Louisiana. As I have said many times, this association
is professional, important, and recognized by elected
officials as leaders in local government. John Gallagher
and the staff are some of the finest and most caring
people in this business. I have made many, many
friends and have been humbled by the prayers and
support that they have given me. This has truly been
a huge blessing to me.
So what are you thankful for? Most of the time, we
travel down life’s highway way too fast. Take time to
reflect on the blessings in your life as I have learned
to do. Oscar Wilde said “To live is the rarest thing in
the world. Most people just exist.” Remember to give
God the glory and the praise for what He has done
in your life!
Jimmy Williams
Mayor
Town of Sibley
Page 8
LMR | FEBRUARY 2024