Celebrating the Beautiful Life, Love & Legacy of Mother Helestine R. Williams

Missionary Helestine Richardson Williams, a woman of virtue and grace, a humble servant of God, was born on March 8, 1934 to the late Supt. Alexander Thomas Richardson and the late Missionary Melisa Wheat Richardson in Amite, Louisiana. She was the third and only girl of ten children. Missionary Williams, a reverent woman of prayer, professed a sincere hope in Christ at a young woman.

Missionary Williams married the love of her life, the late Joe Wallace Williams, Sr., To this union, five children were born: Joe Jr., Gregory Sr, Chandra, Stephanie and Basiel (Tim) Sr., Affectionately known by many names such as, Stine, Auntie Stine, Helen, Mommie, and Grandmother, she raised her family to love the Lord with all their heart because that's what she was taught and firmly believed.

She was Godly example for many Missionary Williams was known for many of her most famous sayings such as, "Surrender to the Lord," Run for your life while you have time,' "Say Yes to His Will and Yes to His Way," " Our only hope is in the Lord," Train up a child in the way he should go," and the prophetic one, " The Lord is gonna get these people about lying on him. " After a conversation with her, if you didn't know the Lord, you left that conversation knowing that you needed to be saved.

For many years, while living in Houston, Texas, Missionary Williams was a faithful Prayer Warrior, licensed Missionary and an active supporter of New Bethel Temple COGIC, Supt. Harold Tisdell, Pastor. She served in many capacities including the Texas Southwest Jurisdiction Mother's Board Vice President under State Supervisor Annie M. Cooper. After moving back to Louisiana in her later years she was blessed to fellowship with God's Tabernacle of Deliverance COGIC, Supt. Willie Cage, Pastor and reunited with her childhood church, Gordon-Richardson Temple of Deliverance where she served under the leadership of her own brother, Supt. Emmitt Richardson, Sr.

Throughout her many accomplishments, Missionary Williams was privileged to attend San Jacinto Community College of Pascadena, Texas where she studied Dietary and Flora Arranging. She was a licensed child advocate and foster care agency owner for the state of Texas. This modern day Dorcas was woman who pressed through many years of adversity, trials, and tribulations with the help of the Lord and came a might long way.

On March 8, 2014, she celebrated 80 years of life with a grand birthday dinner. Upon her entrance into the banquet hall, she was so elated to be honored by family and friends who came from far and near. The first thing she utter was " Oh my Lord, look-a-here at all these people. What a privilege it was to celebrate the beauty, life and legacy of our precious jewel!

The Richardson Family 

Loved and adored by many, Missionary Williams left an undeniable legacy throughout her family, church and community. She is survived and will forever be remembered by her five children: Pastor Joe (Gayle) Williams Jr., Elder Gregory Williams Sr (Shaun). Evangelist Chandra W. Kelley; Mother Stephanie W. Wyatt; all of Houston, TX; and Basiel "Tim" (Lula) Williams Sr., of Hammond, LA; nineteen beautiful grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, whom she cherished dearly; four brothers: Supt. Emmitt (Carolyn) Richardson of Kenner, LA, Joseph (Joyce) Richardson of Bogalusa, LA, Earl (Diane) Richardson of Amite, LA, and Darnell (Gayle) Richardson of Hammond, LA; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and church families.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe W. Williams, Sr., her parents, Supt. Alexander Thomas Richardson and the late Missionary Melisa Wheat Richardson five brothers: Thomas Richardson, Sr., Walter Richardson, Sr., Alex Richardson, Jr., Supt. Samuel Richardson, and Elder Nathaniel (Alma) Richardson, Sr., and daughter-in-law, Missionary Joycie L. Williams. She will forever be loved, cherished and honored in our hearts.

The Mose and Idella Williams Dudley Family History

Charlie Collins, Sr. 

Remembering home, remembering the old landmark, remembering what was our fondest memories for me and many of my cousins as we approach fifty. Many of us in our own immediate families and some of us having grandchildren, they're my first-cousins, my close friends it all seems so unreal.

Because now we are telling our newest family members of what we took for granted our-- family history of gathering together on Sundays to watch our family softball team that played every Sunday in Kenner at the old Morgan playground field, The Cade Raiders and The Cade Raiderettes.

My grandparents, Charles Cade Sr., and Mable Dudley Cade had sixteen children, eight boys and eight girls. Like most large families, they did everything together; they lived, loved and played together as a family—they instilled that in us that family is important, and that family was first, and  keep your faith in God. For the longest of time, because I had so many first cousins, my first cousins were my friends. My cousin Thomas Brown was my best friend for the longest time. I have four cousins the same age as I am.  Even to this day, I think this is the benefit of growing up in a big family, but close family. We all know as cousins that we always have each others back because we’re family. I think my grandmother stressed this too us because she was the only daughter of Mose and Idella Williams Dudley. My grandmother had one brother O.D. Dudley.

Mose Dudley

We remember her always talking about her childhood in Tangipahoa Parish. I remember her talking about Tangipahoa Parish and Amite, LA.,  So whenever, our extended family came from Amite to visit New Orleans on a weekend, It was always a fun time that would last all day Friday and  throughout the weekend: Aunt Sydney, Aunt Daisy, Cousin Latham, Uncle Oscar, Uncle Bud, Aunt Maggie, Cousin Mildred, Cousin Ann, Cousin Shirley, Cousin Norma Jean,  and Cousin Betty. Words couldn't expressed how happy everyone were to see each other and how happy everyone were to just get together as family either in Amite or in New Orleans-The Dudleys and Cades.

I can go on and on about great times with our family as most of my cousins can share, the food, the laughter, oh we did a lot of laughing together, a lot of good nature teasing, kids everywhere playing, kids jammed into the living room on pallets, but I think we would all give anything to hear our grandmother or Aunt Mae saying, “hey baby, come on in”

Melvin Collins III