Joe Williams Jr. was born and raised in Saxman, Alaska. He is of Tlingit descent and belongs to the Eagle Tribe within the Tlingit Tribe. He graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1963 and went on to attend Alaska Pacific University, formerly known as Alaska Methodist University (AMU), in 1979. Joe was the first graduate of AMU, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business. He has been married to his wife for 43 years. Together, they have six children, seven granddaughters, and two grandsons. Joe has extensive knowledge of Alaska, Ketchikan, Saxman, and Tlingit culture. For 28 seasons, he has owned and operated Where the Eagle Walks, a historical walking tour and lecture company in Ketchikan. Over time, the business has expanded to include lectures on Tlingit culture and other specialty tours.

Joe has held several significant leadership positions throughout his career. He was the first Tlingit Alaska Native elected mayor of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. He also served as mayor of the City of Saxman, making him the first elected official in Alaska to hold both borough and city mayoral positions. His other leadership roles include serving as tribal president of Saxman IRA for 12 years, vice president of the National Congress of American Indians for eight years, a council member for the City of Saxman for 12 years, and a member of the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority Board of Directors for six years, representing Saxman, Alaska.