Reflections of Servant Leader's Life Rev. Dr. Frances Williams

Rev. Dr. Frances Williams

Frances Williams was born July 24, 1928. He is the son of Mr. John Henry Williams and Mary Jennings Williams. He attended Harris Chapel School from 1933 until 1934 and then Leonard Chapel Church until 1937 at which tie he transferred to Bagel Church School until the 8th grade. At the age 13, he left school to worked to help support his family and began working for Canadian National Railroad. When he turned 18, he became a truck driver for B. Sterns Trucking where he worked for 4 and a half years. After B. Sterns he worked as truck driver for Smith Grocery Company and then on to become a mechanic for Linda Johnson where he worked for years. He was a fast learner and soon went on to a bigger challenging entering military service.

It important to note, that while Francis Williams was matriculating through school as a young child, he was developing as young Christian as well, ultimately becoming the man we know today. He was a member of Trinity AME Zion Church, under the leadership of Rev. P. H. Golf, by whom he was baptized. Shortly thereafter, at the age of 4, he began preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, at the time he became keenly aware that God had given him a voice to sing. As the love for the word grew, God began to anoint him and open doors for him to sing both solo and in groups. Francis, along with brothers Herbert, Tyree, Riley, Ivory Williams who was not related, and Samuel Douglas, formed a groups. The Orange Grove Gospel Singers. They traveled all over the Gulf South singing and drawing crowds from all over. Francis' favorite song during that period of his life as he recalled was "Stand By Me." '..when the storms of life are raging, Stand By Me" He was an integral part of the group, often singing lead vocals until he left home for military services.

In 1951 Francis Williams entered the United Staes Army and was stationed in Amarillo, Texas and then on to Fort Smith, Arkansas. His responsibility in the military was that of Private 1st Class and he served as the Assistant Chaplain. He had earned several certification in the AME Zion Church and was widely known throughout the country for his ability to share the word of God as well as singing. It then, was natural that he serve the military capacity. Also, while in military service, every opportunity he could, he was actively involved in his home church and in the Louisiana Conference, so much so that he was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in the AME Church in 1952. After and additional year of service, he was honorably discharged in 1954, at which time he readily returned home to his family community, and church. Because education was a top priority in his life, he returned to finish high school at the age of 27, Williams love to reflect on that period of his life, as he found it difficult to accept the word "can't." He wholeheartedly believed that one could achieve if they "wanted" badly enough. After re-entering high school from 8 grade to six points about hight school in 10 months and in 1957, he received both his high school diploma and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from West Side High School in Amite, Louisiana and Leland College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1973 he receive a Doctor of Divinity from Free Pentecostal School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1974 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theology form Union Theological Seminary in New Orleans and in 1982 he conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity form Livingstone College, in Salisbury, North Carolina. He later went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Psychology in 1992 and 1993 respectively. 

Over the span of his flies, he had received many honors and accolades and had travelled all over the

country preaching the gospel, singing, lecturing, and giving very souls stirring addresses. One of the his most notable addressed was at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s wherein he addressed Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. He often talked about the large crowd before whom he spoke that day; it was among the proudest moments of his life. 

Rev. Dr. Francis Williams & Former President Jim Carter

Rev. Dr. Francis Williams was not only committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, but he loved the Lord with all his heart and practiced what he preached. He served as Pastor of Claiborne AME Zion Church for 8 years, Bickham AME Church for 16 years, and Butlers AME Zion Church for 42 years. All three churches he made a profound impact in the way members worshipped, trusted God, and more importantly, in the way hey lived for God. He was not only a great preacher, teacher, and biblical scholar, but he had a brilliant mind, coupled with skilled hands that enabled him to play a major part in reconstruction of Claiborne and Butler AME Zion Churches. In fact, he drafted the plans for those two churches and built his own home from the ground up, although he was not an architect, nor construction engineer. Dr. Francis was and entrepreneur and businessman as well, owning his own hay baling business and barbershop, which brought his financial success. He regularly gave God glory for the successes he attained  and how it enabled him to take care of his family. He was loving, supportive, and giving to everyone, especially in their time of need, as he understood that giving was indeed a part of his service of God. He also served as Chaplain for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office for many years.

Early in his adult life Dr. Williams met and married Imogene Hitchens. She passed away in 2009. However, standing on Go's word "that his better days would be greater that his farmer." in 2011 he met and was smitten by the person of Ella Foxworth Hill and on April 14, 2012, they were united in Holy Matrimony. Together they brought grace, style, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to their meeting. Their most cherish gifts were those of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Dr. Williams would regularly say to his children, "I could not love you children more than if we were biologically related." He looked forward to and relished the times he and Ella spent with their children eating, laughing, sharing and worshipping God as a family, which they did weekly. 

Believing that his assignment to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, was commitment until death, after he was released from his assignment as Pastor of Butlers, at the ripe age of 86, Rev. Dr. Francis Williams founded and established God's Faith Ministry of Amite, a nondenominational ministry, on June 20, 2014. Rev. Williams served as Pastor of God's Faith Ministry for three years. At his passing, Dr. Williams was a member of the ministerial staff of GFM, serving as Pastor Emeritus and Founder, under the leadership of his son, Elder  Kevin C. Hill. 

At the toll of midnight on the morning of February 20, 2020, Rev. Dr. Francis Williams slept away to glory just as he had always envisioned, with his family tearfully bidding him farewell. He leaves to celebrate his life and walk in his legacy, his loving and devoted wife, Ella, whom he affectionally call "Dear;" his daughter Dinah H. Dillon and her husband Walter, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, his son, Russell E. Hill and his wife Tonya, of Hammond, Louisiana; his son and Pastor, Elder Kevin C. Hill, Esq. and his wife Dr. Dawn Mabry Hill, also of Hammond, Louisiana. Eleven grandchildren: LaTasha, Patrick, Jonathan, Teresah, Trishan, Jasmine, Karlton, Ciara, Patrick-Michael, Aryelle and Chandler; 6 great grandchildren: Patrionne and Psevynn Hill, Tajanai Cockerham, Therral Hatfield, Jr., Sean and Jerrell Williams; one sister, Josephine Robertson and her husband Joseph, Sr.; one brother-in-law, Billy J. Foxworth and his wife Easter, of Farmerville, Louisiana.; one sister-in-law, Willie D. Jacobs of Smyrna, Georgia; two goddaughters, Virginia Jones of Ruston, Louisiana, and Dr. Leanne H. Fowler of Slidell, Louisiana; on godson, Elder Floyd Green and his Artrice of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Also celebrating his life and legacy is a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, members of God's Faith Ministry, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Williams, a sister, Mattie East, and brothers, Herbert, Tyree, and Riley Williams.

Source: The Funeral Program of Rev. Dr. Francis Williams

The Rich History and Legacy of Esaw Lawson of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Esaw Lawson

Esaw Lawson was born 1848 in Louisiana  to Henry and Arsena Lawson and his wife Malinda Tom Lawson was born in Clinton, Louisiana. According to the 1870 Unites States Federal Census. He was living in the house with A.D. Henkel and his family.  Esaw was living in Ward 1,  Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. He was a laborer and he could read and write. He and Malinda was married on March 13, 1873. They were the parents of: Willie, B.T. Viola, Chancey, Sallie, Robert, Rosa, Eddie, Arthur, and Mary Lawson. 

Esaw died at the at of ninety-two. He worked at Gullet Cotton Gin Company for years under Mr. King and Mrs. Rostick, he also worked for the Rieds, Kopflers, Sanders and Vernon family, for the city and many other places.

Esaw was the head of the first public school building for colored children. He was the the head of the first Old Fellow Hall building in Amite for colored people. Superintendent A. C. Lewis asked Esaw to call a meeting for the Tangipahoa Parish High School to be built here in Amite, but the colored people voted against the school being built in Amite. The Superintendent gave placed in in Kentwood, Louisiana,

He asked Esaw to give him the name of someone he knew that could hold the principals position. Esaw highly recommend Oliver Wendell Dillion for the position at the Negro Tangipahoa Parish Color School because he knew that he could handle the position.

Honoring the Beautiful Memory of My Dear Cousin Juanita Harrell Stewart

Juanita Harrell Stewart, my maternal 2nd cousin removed, was such a stunning, elegant woman, well poised, gracious, and elegant person. Throughout our relationship, she blessed me with so much love and support. She never hesitated to express her pride in my accomplishments. 

She was born to Edgar Harrell and Minnie Nolan Harrell in 1922 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She died in 2008 in Kentwood, LA. Juanita was married to Isaac Stewart and they were the parents of two children: Michael Stewart and Gwendolyn Lorraine Stewart. 

She was a lifelong member of Petty AME Church before Hurricane Katrina.  She served as a secretary for the church for many years. In New Orleans, she belonged to a variety of civc and social organizations. In fact, she had so many talents including being a seamstress and having for sewing. In addition, she preserved an extensive collection of family photos and other documents relating to the Harrell family.

I was cleaning out my files today and I came across the guest book for her Homegoing Service. I reread some of the cards and floral cards that were left. Her church family, church district family, and countless of other people, relatives, and friends loved her dearly. I for one, I will never forget my beautiful cousin.