In Loving Memory
Samuel Jerry Williams
Samuel Jerry Williams was born on July 23, 1922 at 9:00am in Monroe, Louisiana to Caprious Williams and Willie Gertrude Reamor. On September 2, 2020 at 12:51am, Samuel was called to his eternal home.
Raised by his Grandmother Idonia Reamor in Grambling, Louisiana, Samuel learned the value of work by cutting weeds and chopping wood. By age eight he used his busy hands to make his own toys. He made wagons from logs to slide down the nearby hills. He played basketball and made hoops from metal rings taken from barrels and attached it to the side of their barn. He attended Friendship Elementary School and Grambling High School. As he grew older he learned to plow with a mule the 240-acre Reamor farmland that grew vegetables for the family’s supply, and cotton to sell.
At 15 years old he moved to San Antonio, Texas with his mother and step-dad. There he finished his secondary education receiving his diploma from Columbus High School. He attended Prairie View College for several semesters before meeting his future wife Elizabeth Marie Hornsby.
Samuel moved to Oakland, California in 1945 at the age of 23 and married Elizabeth soon after, sharing sixty-nine years together. He was employed by the Southern Pacific Railway, and later for an East Bay taxi service until obtaining a job with the City of Berkeley. Samuel accepted Christ and actively served at Zion’s First Church of God in Christ for nearly fifty years. He served on the Deacon Board, Finance committee, and found joy in doing whatever job was needed. Every year he would make the long drive to Texas and Louisiana to stay connected to his extended family.
Constantly working at self-improvement, he studied real estate, carpentry, locksmithing, and various other trades that allowed him to turn a fixer upper house into a beautiful family home. As head of Berkeley municipal mail department he greeted department supervisors and clerics on a daily basis with a smile. He relished the importance of his job, and lived out his motto that “excellence should be the bottom line.”
Shortly after moving to Sacramento in 2001 he joined the church family at Progressive Church of God in Christ until the passing of his wife. Finally he moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to be with his children. For as long as he was able to move, he attended First Baptist Church of North Hollywood every Sunday.
To cherish his memory, Samuel leaves his children, Samuel J. Williams Junior, Phyllis Yvonne Williams, Tony St.James Williams, and Sammie Lee Cherry; grandchildren Nicole and Vattel Cherry, Gwenell Williams, Gena Muhammad, Robin Adams, Kaila Williams, Samuel J. Williams III, and Ayana Layli Williams; great-grandchildren August & Desmond Cherry, Asia, Kadijah and Jasim Muhammad, Payton Marie & Samuel J. Williams IV; sister Anna Jackson and a hosts of nieces, nephews, cousins, and endeared friends.
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Friday, October 23
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20 Comments
Leave a Reply to Randy Crenshaw Cancel reply
The first time I met Poppa Williams was at First Baptist Church. I was almost in tears because I’d recently lost my own Father and he reminded me so much of him. From that day on I called him Pops. Every Sunday as I passed him in the pews, I would walk over and kiss forehead. He would gently grab my hand and ask, what’s your name? He asked me that question every Sunday. Seeing Pops on Sunday was GOD’s way of giving me a little more time with my Dad. Now they’re both in heaven!! You’ll be missed Pops!!
Sending my love and blessings of comfort to the entire family!!
…we just met him once in Oakland (in 1984) for a meal and we keep in mind his goodness and his humour…
God bless you all.
I met Poppa Williams at First Baptist Church of North Hollywood. He was such a sweet soul. Always smiling and asking what was my name. He was a sharp dresser. He will be missed. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Pray God will comfort the family. Love and Blessings.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family over the loss of your sweet father. He and your mother were the kindest of souls, and I will always remember how lovingly they treated me, and the good times we enjoyed together. You and your brothers were so faithful in your care for them. It was a blessing to see that unity and dedication.
I hope you are well, prospering, and being creative even as I know what it means to traverse this difficult arc of caring for, then saying goodbye to your parents.
I send you love, always, you remain in my heart in a beautiful way, and I wish you all God’s blessings and grace.
Love, Selimah
Sweet Samuel is having a face to face glorious meeting with our Lord and incredible rejoicing with his Elizabeth. I’m so sorry for your loss. I know how much and Tony are to miss him. I’m praying for comfort, sweet peace, and wonderful memories together. Your dad lived a full and beautiful life.
Praying for your family, as this time is quickly approaching.
Blessings
Looking forward to sharing this experience with you❤️??
Praying for you, friend. No matter how old your father was, it is still heartbreaking when God comes to take them. But his WAS a life well lived. Like yours.
Praying for God’s peace and great joy,
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. It’s always so hard to lose our dear ones, even when they have enjoyed a long and full life. We are blessed with parents and family who believe in God and are at peace with moving on. It’s a comfort to me and I imagine that brings you some comfort as well. I didn’t know your Dad, but knowing you and having met your brother and your niece, I get a sense of a kind and intelligent family of faith.
I hope that I know a little bit of Samuel from you all. I will be there for the memorial and anytime you want to talk or visit. Maybe a walk on the beach.
My beloved brother, Sam.
You will truly be missed by your sister.
I remember when we were at Grambling State you would go with us to the ball games as our protector.
You truly loved me and I truly loved you. You will always be in my heart.
Love your sister,
Ann
If it wasn’t for a visit to Oakland to see Uncle Samuel and Aunt Babe for Easter on March 20, 1997 I would not have met the love of my life and the family we have been able to create together.
You will be missed.
Our condolences to Evon, Sam, and Tony. We are thinking of you all in these difficult times.
Mr. Williams was always so sweet to us and it was always a joy to see him at church for Sunday services. We loved him. We have lost a kind and encouraging friend.
May God comfort and keep you all.
We will never forget Mr. Williams’s warm hospitality when we would visit the family home in Oakland.
Prayers of Comfort and Blessings to Sam, Tony & my Dear Life-long Friend Phyllis!
What lovely, fun and treasured memories we have of being with Sam and the family. We hope you feel surrounded by our love. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and hearts. May God continue to bless you and as we keep you in our prayers.
I never met your father, but he sounds like a wonderful and godly man, who lived a long and rich life with you, and is now rejoicing in heaven with Elizabeth!
I have a feeling he left an indelible impact on your extended family…
Condolences and love,
What a supportive father Mr. Williams was to his children who were not called to work a regular 9 to 5, but who were blessed, trained and developed with musical gifts and talents to work and provide food on the table. Only a father’s love would allow his children’s dreams to manifest. Love & God’s blessings always!
I so enjoyed saying hello to Mr. Williams every Sunday at First Baptist during our “meet and greet.” He was always dressed so sharp and had the kindest smile and a sweet and gentle spirit. He was a man with class… May he Rest In Peace until the day of the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
My Deepest Condolences. Sending Love and Joy Always
Thanks for letting me be apart of SAMUEL j WILLIAMS Life he had a wonderful spirit we will be missed Rest in peace.my friend.
So many wonderful attributes are attached to the name of Poppa Williams. I visited his home back in the day while singing with ‘The Danniebelles’ The food prepared by his wife along with awsome fellowship caused an instant bond that remained until he went home to be with The Lord. Phyllis, you have been such a dear friend sharing your space in in my time of need. You have that same gift of love. He always had a special twinkle in his eyes during our conversations about you, your siblings and your mom. I am blessed to have known him. It is my prayer that you all wil be comforted as you continue his legacy. I’m looking forward to seeing him again where his Glorified body and mind will be perfect. Until then, keep on singing, writing, and most of all loving The Lord.