Long-time Bridgeton mayor passes away unexpectedly, a tremendous loss, says friends

Wearing bib overalls and operating the town through an old school flip cell phone, Bridgeton Mayor Rodman Williams served the town and its residents for 20 years.

On May 25, Williams unexpectedly passed away at CarolinaEast Medical Center. Williams was 75 years old.

Born Feb. 15, 1947, in Cove City, Williams graduated from New Bern High School in 1965. Afterward, he served in the United States Air Force where he acquired his pilot’s license, serving for a total of four years.

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Before serving the town as mayor, Williams moved to Bridgeton in the late 1970s where he became a volunteer firefighter and later the town's fire chief. Williams also served on several town boards before becoming mayor.

In Williams' obituary, the family wrote, "He loved the town and he loved being the mayor, he served with a great passion for his community. He was also a skilled carpenter by trade and worked most of his career downtown in the historic district of New Bern."

Known by long-time friend Mike Clark as "boss," Clark said Williams has been his best friend for 35 years.

"He is probably one of the most gentle giants you've ever met," Clark said. "He had a calm demeanor about everything. He'd give everybody a chance, and when you shook his hand, he'd give you all of his respect that second — that's rare."

When Williams was first elected in 2001, Clark explained Williams' name wasn't even on the ballot. Williams decided to run for mayor after the filing period, because he wanted to bring change to the town, according to Clark.

In a town whose population hovers between 300 and 400 residents, Clark and Williams campaigned at the polls on the day of the election and Williams was able to win the mayor's seat as a write-in candidate.

His victory as a write-in candidate is said to be the first for a mayor's seat in Craven County.

Since then, Williams has made Bridgeton a better place to live and raise a family, said Clark. The loss of the town's mayor and the former fire chief was difficult for Clark to put into words.

"I've lost one of my closest friends in the world," Clark said. "Whatever he did, he succeeded. It didn't matter what it was, how hard it was, if he didn't have it, he still made it. There was nothing he couldn't do."

Bridgeton Councilman Keith Tyndall has served the town for 28 years, 20 of them with Williams as mayor.

"Rodman had the town in his heart," Tyndall said. "He was someone who was a natural leader. He could get a group of people together and have them working together and on the same page and get along. It's a rare thing to have these days."

On top of serving as mayor, Williams wore many hats, Tyndall said. He oversaw the town's sewer department and was a vital piece in renovations in Bridgeton and New Bern. Tyndall also said Williams built up the town's police and fire department, doubling the town's current police force.

"He knew so much about the town, about the sewer system, people would call him up because he knew the answer right off the top of his head," Tyndall said. "It is a big, big loss for the town of Bridgeton.

The town appointed a new mayor Tuesday night. Former council member John Chittick was appointed with a unanimous vote. Chittick has previously served on the council for two terms prior to his appointment last night.

This November will also be Bridgeton's nonpartisan election for mayor and the four commissioner seats, according to the Craven County Board of Elections. Bridgeton's mayor and commissioners serve two-year terms with an election cycle every two years.

Williams' family will receive friends and relatives from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday at Bridgeton Christian Church, located at 306 New St. Arrangements are being handled by Daniels and Sadler Funeral Home of Alliance, and flowers or sympathy gifts may be sent there.

Reporter Trevor Dunnell can be reached by email at tdunnell@newbernsj.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Twenty year Bridgeton mayor passes away, friends celebrate his life