Meet The Williams
If it’s true that families who play together stay together, what happens to families that ride together? Just ask the Williams family. They have discovered that motorcycling is the ultimate form of play.
It isn’t often you see a dad, a mom and sons riding together. DeWayne and Donna Williams, of Hixson, share their love of riding with their two teenage sons, David and Jesse. Warm, friendly, and soft spoken, the whole family speaks openly of their love for Jesus, for each other, and
of riding their motorcycles.
DeWayne and Donna met at church in Murphy, North Carolina. DeWayne was on a date with someone else but spotted Donna across the room. He knew instantly she was “the one.” Almost 20 years later, they have built a family together whose favorite pastime is being together, preferably on their bikes.
As a boy, DeWayne grew up wanting a motorcycle. His parents, concerned for his safety, suggested he buy one himself when he was 18. He did. He admits with a smile he knew little about buying a bike and based his purchase on the one thing he knew he wanted. “It was blue.” On the 50 mile ride home he realized he knew nothing about riding. Halfway through the trip he found himself on the side of the road wondering why the bike had stopped running. A stranger stopped to help, telling him, “Put some gas in it and it will go.” DeWayne laughs at the memory. Then his eyes turn serious. “I knew then, when I had kids I wanted them to have a different experience. I wanted them to learn the correct way to ride.”
When his son David was 13, a family friend gave them a 1974 Honda CB 60. DeWayne taught him to ride in the family’s back yard. David then attended riding class at Chattanooga State. He rode so well his parents bought him a 2001 Suzuki Intruder 1500 for Christmas. His dad rode the Honda until one day it broke down in a rainstorm. When he came home to a dinner party soaked to the bone, he convinced Donna it was time for a new bike. They added a 2004 Yamaha Roadstar 1700 to the family.
Two years later, Donna decided it was her turn to own a bike. She bought a 2007 Kawasaki Eliminator. Donna says people are surprised to see her ride, thinking her too petite to hold up a bike. Like her son, she learned to ride in the back yard and took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s class at Chattanooga State.
Jesse is the official family photographer and enjoys riding on the back of his dad’s bike. In 2008 the whole family joined the local chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association. Jesse said, “we have the best time of our lives” riding with the CMA, but he often prefers movies and video games to riding and doesn’t want his own bike right now.
When asked their favorite place to ride, they all agree Mayfield Dairy is at the top of the list. They often ride to Harriman to eat at Cracker Barrel or to the Sweetwater Flea market.
When not riding, Donna works at Lifeway Christian bookstore in Hixson. DeWayne teaches at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. Both boys attend Soddy-Daisy High School.
Kathy Kile
kathy@kickstandup.com
photos by Kathy Kile
Read MoreIt isn’t often you see a dad, a mom and sons riding together. DeWayne and Donna Williams, of Hixson, share their love of riding with their two teenage sons, David and Jesse. Warm, friendly, and soft spoken, the whole family speaks openly of their love for Jesus, for each other, and
of riding their motorcycles.
DeWayne and Donna met at church in Murphy, North Carolina. DeWayne was on a date with someone else but spotted Donna across the room. He knew instantly she was “the one.” Almost 20 years later, they have built a family together whose favorite pastime is being together, preferably on their bikes.
As a boy, DeWayne grew up wanting a motorcycle. His parents, concerned for his safety, suggested he buy one himself when he was 18. He did. He admits with a smile he knew little about buying a bike and based his purchase on the one thing he knew he wanted. “It was blue.” On the 50 mile ride home he realized he knew nothing about riding. Halfway through the trip he found himself on the side of the road wondering why the bike had stopped running. A stranger stopped to help, telling him, “Put some gas in it and it will go.” DeWayne laughs at the memory. Then his eyes turn serious. “I knew then, when I had kids I wanted them to have a different experience. I wanted them to learn the correct way to ride.”
When his son David was 13, a family friend gave them a 1974 Honda CB 60. DeWayne taught him to ride in the family’s back yard. David then attended riding class at Chattanooga State. He rode so well his parents bought him a 2001 Suzuki Intruder 1500 for Christmas. His dad rode the Honda until one day it broke down in a rainstorm. When he came home to a dinner party soaked to the bone, he convinced Donna it was time for a new bike. They added a 2004 Yamaha Roadstar 1700 to the family.
Two years later, Donna decided it was her turn to own a bike. She bought a 2007 Kawasaki Eliminator. Donna says people are surprised to see her ride, thinking her too petite to hold up a bike. Like her son, she learned to ride in the back yard and took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s class at Chattanooga State.
Jesse is the official family photographer and enjoys riding on the back of his dad’s bike. In 2008 the whole family joined the local chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association. Jesse said, “we have the best time of our lives” riding with the CMA, but he often prefers movies and video games to riding and doesn’t want his own bike right now.
When asked their favorite place to ride, they all agree Mayfield Dairy is at the top of the list. They often ride to Harriman to eat at Cracker Barrel or to the Sweetwater Flea market.
When not riding, Donna works at Lifeway Christian bookstore in Hixson. DeWayne teaches at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. Both boys attend Soddy-Daisy High School.
Kathy Kile
kathy@kickstandup.com
photos by Kathy Kile
