Dr. Williams is a native of Henderson County, Kentucky. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown College in 1948 and Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Religious Education degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1951 and 1955 respectively. Dr. Williams served as pastor of churches in Illinois and Kentucky with his longest pastorate (1963-1988) being at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

For a period of time the Williams Cross Museum was located on Market Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. In the spring of 1992 Dr. Williams donated his collection to Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky. The collection is now housed on the second floor of the Cumberland Museum which is located just off I-75 at Exit 11. The Museum is joined to the Cumberland Inn and Conference Center.

Dr. Williams donated his important collection to Cumberland College in memory of his son Carl (pictured in the bottom painting). Carl was a 1980 alumnus of Cumberland College who following his graduation served as pastor of Beech Grove Baptist Church in Bullitt, Kentucky. Carl died in 1981 although his memory lives on in his family and friends. The Carl Williams Cross Museum celebrates the life and faith of Carl.