Arthur "Art" Wyatt McWilliams

Arthur “Art” Wyatt McWilliams was born on August 15, 1940, in Munford, Alabama, and passed away on October 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. Art attended Munford Elementary and High School and graduated from Auburn University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Art served two years in the Army before moving to Los Angeles, California, where he worked in manufacturing. After working his way up the corporate ladder, Art took the leap into commercial real estate by accepting a job in Atlanta, Georgia, at Adair Realty. Art co-founded the firm Bugg, Coppedge, Guertner & McWilliams, which later was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield. Cushman & Wakefield went on to task Art and longtime friend and colleague Terry Smith with opening an office in Nashville, so in 1984, Art moved from Atlanta to Music City, where he would spend the next thirty years establishing himself as a pillar in the Nashville commercial real estate industry. Art spent fifteen years with Cushman & Wakefield І Cornerstone as Principal and Broker, during which he transacted over two million square feet of prominent commercial leases and sales, including major accounts for AT&T, CIGNA, and the Willis Tower. Art went on to help establish Avison Young, where he served as Principal and Executive Vice President for over a decade. His favorite role, however, was serving as a mentor to the next generation of Nashville brokers.

Art was passionate about civic duty and took on multiple leadership roles where he leveraged his skills to benefit the Nashville community. He served a member of the Board of Governors for the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, sat on the founding Executive Committee of Partnership 2000, served as President of the Commercial Division of the Nashville Board of Realtors, and was Chair of the Oak Hill Planning Commission.

Beyond his professional life, Art loved nothing more than spending time with his family (especially his grandchildren), long walks at Radnor Lake, taking trips with “The Travel Team,” and advising young entrepreneurs. Art was a loving family man and husband, a jokester, a dedicated friend, and a lifelong learner. Art and Liz were longtime members of First Presbyterian Church before joining Woodmont Christian Church.

Art is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Alton McWilliams and Inez Wyatt McWilliams. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth “Liz” Scott McWilliams; his three daughters, Carón McWilliams Gordon (Bill), Patricia “Tricia” McWilliams Ward (Jim), and Elizabeth “Lisa” McWilliams Harris (Jon); five grandchildren, Wyatt Fleming Gordon, Skylar Ashland Ward, Riley Jackson Ward, Harper Elizabeth Harris and Joseph “Griffin” Harris; brother Jerry Franklin McWilliams (Donna); and sister Teresa McWilliams Bussie (Glenn).

The visitation will be held at Woodmont Christian Church (3601 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215) on Monday, October 26^th at 9:30 a.m., with the funeral service immediately to follow at 11:00 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Abe’s Garden Community (115 Woodmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205, or online at Donation Form), or to Alive Hospice (1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203, or online at Donation Form).

Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, Nashville, TN (615) 857-9955. We proudly remain locally owned & operated.