Rev. Willie Williams

A First- Person Perspective:

My Life

By Willie Lee Williams

I was born January 28, 1946 in Surry, Virginia to the late John Henry Williams and Rilla Newby Williams. I am the sixth child of eleven children. I attended. LP. Jackson and Cypress Elementary schools. Our family moved to Smithfield, Virginia, in December 1958, at which time I attended Isle Of Wight Training School and later graduated from Westside High School in 1967. I went on to Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia, where I received a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1971. It was in 1971 that I married the love of my life Harriet Brown. From this marriage we have three children, Troy, Deborah and Billy (Alona). After graduating from St Paul’s I enlisted in the U.S. Army for three years. While in the military, I received several promotions and leadership awards. During my military tour, I was able to attend Roosevelt University, The University of Illinois, and Webster University. I hold a o Degree in Business Management from Webster University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Richmond Virginia Seminary.

After the military, I moved back to Isle of Wight County to stay. My first permanent position was managing CM Foods Company in Smithfield, Virginia. My next position was Building Official for Isle of Wight County. In that position, I became the first Certified Building Official in the State of Virginia. In 1978, I secured the position of Business Management Professor at Tidewater Community College where I retired after 31 years of dedicated teaching service. Two awards I am most proud to have received were the title of Professor of the Year and a certification from the State as a Master Teacher. I started several business ventures.

In 1983 I was called and licensed by Little Zion Baptist Church to preach God’s Holy Word. In 1989, I was ordained and called to pastor New Mount Zion Baptist Church, Gloucester, VA until 1998. I have served as Associate Minister at New Jones Grove Baptist Church of Windsor, VA and as an Assistant and Interim Pastor at Cypress Baptist Church in Elberon, VA. In August 2019, I received the call to pastor The New Jones Grove Baptist Church of Windsor, VA. Finally I served as the Co- Pastor of Unity Tabernacle Church in Elberon, VA. I am a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated through the Lambda Nu Chapter, Franklin, VA.

“FROM HIS LOVED ONES”

In his early years, Rev. Williams was an athlete. Many of his lifelong friendships grew from his participation in the Central Hill A’s. He enjoyed fishing and was known in the community as the “Fishman”. He served as the primary point of contact in the community for “fresh fish”. His entrepreneurial philosophy was to identify a service people needed and turn it into a business. His social action involvement included volunteer work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People-NAACP. Through the NAACP, Rev. Williams served on several committees to address inequities in education, public school administration, and teacher representation. He also advocated voter registration. Rev. Williams remained vocal and present at the Isle of wight County School Board meetings- most recently at the March meeting.. His social advocacy work extended to the isle of wight County Board of supervisors to ensure equity in the budget affecting school board funding. Rev. Williams remained that voice for civil rights to the end of his life. He enjoyed reading, writing editorials and sermons. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, no matter how often he vowed that the next season he would switch teams.

His Heavenly Elevation

On April 26, 2026, Rev. Williams answered the call to take his leave from this life and enter the reward. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Williams and Rilla Newby Williams; his brothers John O. Newby and James Williams; and his younger sister Julia Williams Mason. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife, Harriet B. Williams, and their three children. Also left to celebrate his memory are his grandchildren: Shanelle Monique Coleman, Chelsea De’Anna Williams, Xavier Pierce Williams, Kristiana Jones. Trinity Whitney, and O’Landyn Williams, along with five great grandchildren, Maurice, Melody, Marcel, Kioni and KaMya. He leaves to honor family traditions-four brothers Robert H. Williams (Lizzie), Melvin J. Williams, Clinton L. Williams and Ralph L. Williams(Amanda);five sisters: Mary Gibbs, Portia Green, Sarah J. Bell, Dinah W. McCullough, and Linda Lankford (Stevie);one brother in law, Alfred C. Brown (June)  along with a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members

Only a Step

… if you could see the sunshine with no dark shadows lurking near, If you could know the joy supreme I find with my Lord so dear. I had to slip away in the beautiful land of eternity, for over here, no sorrow could ever be, So when the day is over and the night is drawing nigh, I’ll pray you too will find it-only a step -Where walks my precious Lord and I.

On Sunday, April 26, 2026, viewing will take place from 2-5pm at Shivers Funeral Chapel. At 12pm on Monday, April 27, 2026, a Celebration of Life will be held at Little Zion Baptist Church. Please keep the Williams family in your thoughts and prayers.