Jesse Williams

The Family of Jesse Williams will be recieving relatives and friends on Saturday February 29 2020 at Gethsemane United Methodist Church 910 Addison Rd S, Capital Heights, MD Viewing: 10am Service: 11am Internment: Lincoln Cemetery “… I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11: 25-26 On February 19, 2020, Reverend Jesse Williams entered into eternal rest. He was the first of eleven children born on January 9, 1938 in South Norfolk, Virginia (now known as Chesapeake) to Edward Vincent Williams and Deaconess Katie Mae Clark Williams (both parents predeceased him). Reverend Williams obtained his education in the Chesapeake, Virginia school system. He attended Waterford Elementary School and graduated from George Washington Carver High School in June, 1956. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Army for two years, 1956 to 1958. He obtained the ranking of Sergeant and worked as a medical corpsman. During his military service, Reverend Williams was presented with the Good Conduct Medal and he received an Honorable Discharge in 1958. Reverend Williams entered into Holy Matrimony with his wife Carolyn Elizabeth Collins on May 30th, 1959. From this union, two children were born: Anthony and Pamela LeRita Williams. From a child, Reverend Williams walked a Christian life. He attended St. Thomas AMEZ Church in Norfolk, where he served as a youth usher, taught in Sunday School and sang in the youth choir. When Reverend Williams and family moved to Washington, DC he joined the New Bethel Baptist Church where Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy was the pastor. He and his family were baptized by the late Reverend James Jones, the Assistant Pastor. At New Bethel, Reverend Williams preached his initial sermon, entitled “You Must Be Born Again.” He attended the Washington Baptist Seminary for four years nightly while working in the Federal Government Office of Personnel Management and at the St. Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital as a forensic occupational therapist. Upon completion of the Washington Baptist Seminary, Reverend Williams was licensed to preach the Gospel by Reverend Fauntroy. He later moved his family to Maryland and joined the Full Gospel AMEZ Church, where he was ordained as an Elder and served as an assistant to Pastor John Cherry. He later joined Gethsemane United Methodist Church in 1980. He worked with Reverend Sylvester Gaines as an Associate Minister until Reverend Gaines retired. He then continued to work with Reverend Triplett. He loved to serve as an assistant visiting the sick and shut in, giving communion, singing in the choir and helping anywhere and whenever asked or needed. His motto was, “If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living will not be in vain.” Reverend Williams’ calling and passion was ministry and serving. His wife and family describe him as a man of “commitment and devotion.” He was committed to his mother, wife and family, and most of all, he was committed to his faith in God. He was fervent, unyielding and nonnegotiable when it came to prayers. His family, siblings, relatives and friends held him in high esteem because of his leadership, stewardship, wisdom, love and compassion. Reverend Williams was predeceased by four brothers: Edward Jr., William Andrew, Edward Lee, Allen Rudolph and grandson Renard Anthony Harris. Reverend Williams leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife of 60 years, Carolyn Elizabeth; his son, Anthony (Kitta); daughter, Pamela LeRita; six grandchildren: Sean Jarmal Harris, Anthony Williams Jr, Aaron Williams, Jared Singhanad Williams, Joshua Williams, Jasmine Williams and great granddaughter Taylor Renee Liggon. Siblings: Wallace Donnail (Ruth), Reverend Ethel Hinton, Reverend Dr. Catherine Williams, Shirley Wilmer, Beatrice Seymore, Patrice Kelly (Eugene) and Benita Turner (Ray). His inlaws: Reverend Dr. William and Eleanor Collins, Patricia Glover, Richard Collins (Joann). Other relatives: Moyette, Wesley and Alfred (uncles), Mary and Edith (aunts) and devoted niece Daryl Clark

Jesse Williams

January 9, 1936 - February 19, 2020