A Homegoing Celebration For Sister Janie Bell Williams

Mrs. Janie Bell Williams

 Sis. Janie Bell Cutrer Williams was born to Dave Cutrer and Claudia Vernon Cutrer. at Stony Point, LA. on October 3, 1915. She grew up in the Mt. Canaan Community of Roseland, LA. Sister Williams was baptized at and early age at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. D. Johnson. She was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Joshua O.Williams, Sr. and became a member of Little Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Willard Vernon. She served diligently for some 50 years until her health failed. 

As faithful member she became a Deaconess, Secretary of the Missionary Board, a primary class Sunday school teacher, chairperson of the Program Committee and other events she served wholeheartedly to accomplished the Church's needs.

Sister Williams received her early education at the Mt. Canaan School and completed her high school training at the Tangipahoa Training School for Colored in Kentwood, LA., under the direction of Professor O.W. Dillon. She subsequently finished college at Grambling College in 1951. Her first teaching experience was in the Fluker, Louisiana, circa 1934. Sister Williams went on to teach school at Mt. Canaan with Principal Mary Vernon Cutrer and later finished her career at the old Amite Color Elementary School (Rosenwald) School and West Side High School totaling 37 years of dedicated work. Sister Williams is best know as a first grade teacher 'par excellence'. She serves a Librarian and Director of Food Service at both schools for many, many years. Sister Williams also taught night school at the Amite Color School. She was and ardent worker in the first Head Start Program and she served in other capacities and was perennial volunteers fo needed functions of the schools she served and her community. Sister Williams was honored by the Amite City Council as the only African American female in the mural depicted on the ceiling of the Amite City Hall. 

Sister Williams and her husband were founding members of the Martha Adam Alumni Association of Grambling College, the Young Men Social Club of Amite, and Tangipahoa Parish Retired Teacher's Association. They were also member of the Louisiana Educational Association.

Sister Williams was preceded in death by her parents, husband Joshua O. Williams, Sr.,  and brother Ivy Cutrer.  She is also preceded in death by  many aunts, two of whom she thought were her sisters, Cora Cutrer Johnson and Ardean Cutrer Leonard; and many other relatives.

Sister Williams leave to cherish her memories one son, Joshua O. Williams, Jr., M.D.; dedicated daughter-in-law, Alesia M. Williams, Ph.D.; two grandchildren, Jovonne Lorriane Williams, P.T., of Stone Mountain, GA., and Joshua Cutrer Marks Williams, PhD., Of New Orleans, LA; two brothers, John Wesley Cutrer (Edna) of Chicago, Ill, and Roy Cutrer of Martha's Vineyard, MA. She also leaves behind three aunts, two uncles, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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Contributor: Richardson Funeral Home, Inc., Amite, Louisiana