Sheriff “Big John” Williams was born and raised in Lowndes County and graduated from Calhoun High School in 1976. Sheriff Williams always wanted to make a difference in his community and felt there was no better way to help his community than to protect and serve them in law enforcement.

In 1978 he started volunteering as a reserve deputy under then Sheriff John Hulett. From 1984-1987 Sheriff Williams worked for the Hayneville Police Department until he began working full time with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. He not only worked full time with the Sheriff’s Office but continued his employment with Hayneville Police Department.

From 1987 to 1990 Sheriff Williams served his community as a deputy. In 1990, he was appointed by Sheriff John Hulett to Chief Deputy and served in this capacity until leaving the department in 2009. In 2010 he ran for Sheriff of Lowndes County and was elected by a majority of votes by the people he had been serving his entire life.

On November 23, 2019, Sheriff "Big John" Williams made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.  His service to the people of Lowndes County has been heralded by many tributes, including the naming of the Lowndes County Court House in his honor. The Ramblin' Thunder 4/5 Event is the only event of its kind officially sanctioned by the Williams family and close friends to pay tribute to Big John's memory and to raise funds for the Sheriff "Big John" Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund, which since its creation has provided more than $28,000 to students from Calhoun, Central, and Lowndes Academy High Schools.