James Cornelius Jacobus Williams was 107-years-old; a beautiful age that deserves to be respected. This morning, his family informed us that Williams did not awake from his sleep, and thus that he passed away in his sleep. He is survived by his only child Marie Winalda Williams, three grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He was known by his family as “Mooi boy Dadda”, which means beautiful man. He passed away peacefully at his home in Macapruimstraat 3, Dakota.
James Williams has not been back in Aruba for too long. Just 6 years ago, in 2017 his granddaughter Melinda Steba convinced him to move back from Surinam. It was no easy feat to register Williams as a legal citizen. When they went to DIMAS, they informed them that they would not allow elderly people to become legal citizens and they denied his entry.
Two years later, they tried again, and were denied once more. Despite Williams having worked in Lago for over 25 years, and having received two pensions. In the end, his family took the matter to court, and within five minutes they left the courtroom with Williams’ permit.
Who was James Williams?
James Williams came to Aruba at the young age of 28. In his first few years on the island, he was doing a few odd jobs here and there, when he eventually signed a contract with Lago. He worked there and rose in the ranks until he eventually worked as a supervisor. Williams was always willing to help others, he was a member of the EBG-Church in San Nicolas which he frequented. He also helped build churches in San Nicolas as well as the one in Dakota.
Williams was a hard worker who continued to work up until the age of 99, when he fell and injured himself.
The oldest person on the island is now a woman, Helen John, who lives in San Nicolas. Like Williams, she is 107-years-old.
The oldest man in Aruba is Frans Croes, who recently turned 105 on the 10th of May. He drove until he was about 100 years old and to this day, he remains active and alert. Frans Croes is the father of Music teacher Maybelline Arends-Croes and Sandra Croes, who is well-known in the sport world. Frans Croes himself is known for owning the beauty product agency, Fa Croes NV.
