FORMER educator and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament Arthur Williams Snr died on Thursday night at the age of 99. He was the longest living retired Jamaican Parliamentarian.

Williams, more popularly known as ‘Teacher Williams’, served as MP for Manchester South for three terms, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, and parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Education. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of Distinction.

Yesterday, JLP leader Andrew Holness described Williams as a “true patriot who served his country with distinction and had a positive and lasting impact on the lives of many Jamaicans.

“His solid work as a Member of Parliament for South Manchester, in addition to his work as an educator, senior justice of the peace, lay preacher, and farmer is awe-inspiring and lives on to this very day,” Holness said.

Williams, he added, was a “a shining example of a truly disciplined, progressive and committed Jamaican.”

Williams is survived by his four children — JLP Senator Arthur Williams, Dr Geoffrey Williams, Dr Maureen Williams, and Pansy Young, a former administrator at the University of the West Indies.