Page 128 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2017

PEOPLE
Life is why
Harrison County Heart Ball
to honor KEITH WILLIAMS story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Hancock Bank
Harrison County Heart Ball
228.604.5318 nett.alexander@heart.org www.harrisonheartball.heart.org
Keith Williams is being honored for his strong commitment to the Heart Association’s efforts to raise awareness of heart disease.
When Keith Williams is honored at the American Heart Association’s Harrison County Heart Ball on April 8 (6-10 p.m. at the Biloxi Civic Center), it won’t
be because he has overcome a heart problem. Instead, this year’s honoree has a strong commitment to the Heart Association’s efforts to raise awareness of heart disease. Williams, 52, is regional president of Hancock Bank.
“Thankfully, I have not had to
deal with a heart problem, but my grandfather died of a heart attack at
an early age. For that reason, my dad did everything he could to make sure it didn’t happen to him, and that trickled down to me,” Williams said. “I try to live a healthy life.”
His healthy lifestyle includes diet and exercise. The alarm clock goes off at 4:30 a.m. Monday through Friday for Williams and his wife, Shelley, then they hit the gym for an hour’s workout. “Some mornings I hope she will hit
the snooze button, but she doesn’t,” he said. “She’s a good partner and just as interested in fitness as I am.”
The couple met while students at
Delta State University and have been married 30 years. He was there on a football scholarship and Shelley was
on a basketball scholarship. Now both are avid tennis players, and Shelley is
an elementary physical education and health teacher. They are the parents of two sons, Keith, Jr. and Kyle, and have a granddaughter and will have a grandson in July. Keith is the son of Walter and Jan Williams of Gulfport, who influenced his
healthy lifestyle.
“Hopefully as a family we’ve stepped
up and made good choices,” he said. “Unfortunately, not everyone in Mississippi is making good choices, and we want to help.”
Early in his career, Williams became involved with the AHA, raising funds and serving on the
executive leadership
team. “I hope that I’m
a community activist and doing things that will help save lives,” he said. “This is such an honor from the AHA and especially to be in the group of past Heart Ball honorees.”
The ball celebrates the
work and mission of the American Heart Association,
the contributions of donors
and volunteers, and the lives saved and improved through the joint effort. This year’s chairman is Jessica Dukes. There will be silent and live auctions, entertainment by Scratch
and Surf, and food by
Bacchus Catering.
128 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2017
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