Our beloved husband and father, Woodrow “Woody” Williams, was a proud Marine, a disabled combat veteran, and a lifelong advocate for his fellow service members.

Woody devoted his life to helping other veterans and their families — not only as a friend and mentor, but as a tireless advocate for their rights and wellbeing. After his own battles with the "system" he began informally helping other veterans file their disability and service-connected claims. His compassion, persistence, and deep understanding of the system led to a 100% success rate in securing benefits for every veteran he assisted. Watching him fight for others with such conviction inspired his daughter, Vanessa, to become an attorney.

With the help of his long-time friend (and little league coach) Tom Bennett, Woody also co-founded one of the nation’s earliest PTSD support groups for combat veterans on Martha’s Vineyard — a space where vets who had carried their pain in silence could finally be seen and understood. He believed that healing begins with connection, and that no veteran should ever be left to suffer alone.

Continuing His Work

We created the Woody Williams Veterans Advocacy Project to carry forward that mission.

This project will fund programs that:
• Provide mental health care and peer support for veterans
• Offer family and caregiver resources
• Empower veteran advocates who continue Woody’s fight for justice and understanding

Our Promise

To honor Woody’s legacy with the greatest possible impact, all funds raised through this campaign will be transferred to the Woody Williams Veterans Advocacy Legacy Fund, a donor-advised fund (DAF) we maintain through Fidelity Charitable. Every dollar raised here will go directly toward continuing Woody’s work — helping veterans and their families find peace, dignity, and support in their healing journeys.

We chose a DAF intentionally. It allows us to:

• avoid the bureaucracy and overhead costs of creating a nonprofit or fiscal sponsorship

• invest the funds so they can grow over time

• direct grants to the organizations, programs, and people doing the most meaningful work for veterans

• maintain full oversight as a family, so every dollar reflects Woody’s values and lifelong advocacy

This structure ensures that more of every donation goes directly to the causes and individuals who need it most, without administrative layers or fees that reduce impact.

We miss Dad more than words can express, but we take comfort knowing that his legacy of service and care will live on through this project — and through every veteran it helps.

“No one comes home from war the same — but no one has to heal alone.”

— With love and gratitude,
Phyllis and Vanessa