Family mourns 'gentle giant' killed by drunk driver

Blue flowers adorn Maxon Williams's grave site at Guam Memorial Park. Kneeled beside his matching heart-shaped wreath is his sister Sherlyn Lorenzo. She smiled proudly as she recalled her brother's warm and loving personality. 

More than a month after his sudden passing, Max's absence is still overwhelming. It's a loss his sister hopes others will learn from.   

"Taking it day by day. It’s kind of heartbreaking," his sister Sherlyn Lorenzo said.

Williams was just 24 years old when his life was cut short on the evening of May 19. He was getting off of work and headed home on Route 16.  A drunk driver then veered into his lane near the overpass, crashing into him and taking his life. 

The other driver, now identified as 28-year-old Royce Brian Banes also was killed. 

"It’s really heartbreaking that it’s because of someone’s decision-making that took my brother but not to speak ill of the guy because he did pass….a lesson for everyone that sees this and hears about Max," Lorenzo said. "He was just a great guy and for him to be taken at such a young age is really heartbreaking."

Now, all they have left are his memories. 

"Well known, well loved and well remembered," his sister said. "He was just an all-around guy." 

Max was a man who loved learning about different cultures. His favorite CHamoru word: balutan. That was a fun fact also mentioned during Max’s eulogy.

"It just showed a lot about him that he was a loveable and great guy," Lorenzo said. "A lot of people knew him as a gentle giant but he was just a lover of food."

And he was an accomplished young man -- a liberal arts grad from the University of Guam and the family provider. 

A man that will never be forgotten.

"You’ll be missed deeply. You are forever loved and will be forever remembered," Lorenzo said.