Born in Gordon, Georgia, James "Jim" Williams (December 1930 – January 1990) was a noted Savannah, Georgia antiques dealer and historic preservationist. In real life and in the film "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," Jim played a very active role in the preservation of Savannah's historic district. In 1955, at the age of 24, he bought and restored his first house located on East Congress Street. Over the next 35 years, Williams would restore more than fifty homes in Savannah, Georgia and South Carolina.

In 1981 Williams was arrested for shooting and killing Danny Hansford, a man with whom he had a sexual relationship. After four subsequent trials, Williams was finally acquitted of murdering Danny by a jury in Augusta, Georgia, in 1989. The jury took just one hour to come back with a verdict of not guilty.

About six months after the last murder trial in January 1990, Williams died unexpectedly at age 59. His death was caused by pneumonia and heart failure. He was in the city that he loved so much (Savannah, Georgia) when he died. He is buried next to his mother, Blanche Brooks Williams, in Ramah Church Cemetery in Gordon, Georgia.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org