- Date Of Birth: July 25, 1935
- Date Of Death: December 30, 2012
- State: North Carolina
James Arthur Byrd Williams, 77 transitioned from this life to everlasting life on Sunday, December 30, 2012 at Briarwood Health and Rehabilitation Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born on July 25, 1935, in Wadesboro, NC to Ishmael and Lena Mae Byrd. He was raised by his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Williams.
James grew up in NC where he attended Lee County Training School in Sanford, NC. He fell in love with Alberta Wood and they were married in Bennettsville, SC. James and Alberta were married for 30 years and had six children; Janice Faye Williams, Robert Leon Williams, Glenda Ophelia Williams, Minister Vennessa Williams McLaughlin, Minister James Arthur Williams, II and Lewis Roderick Williams.
While working fulltime as a supervisor at Lee County Department of Public Works, he attended and received his GED and an Associate Degree in Business from Central Carolina Technical College. He also received an Associate Degree in Cosmetology from Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, NC. He later opened and operated Unisex Salon and Barber Shop. His son, Robert joined him in business.
James got saved at an early age of accountability and joined Jonesboro Chapel Methodist Church in Sanford, North Carolina. In 1958 he joined Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church where he received his call to preach God’s Word. James preached his trial discourse and was ordained a minister in 1964.
He was an avid singer. He used this ministry gift as one of the lead singer with the Son’s of Destiny, and the Heavenly Quartet. He was also a member of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Chorus. His favorite songs were Precious Lord, The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow and Yes, God is Real.
With a burden to show himself approved and rightly divide the Word of God, James attended Shaw University in Raleigh, NC where he received his BA and MA in Theology. He later attended Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC where he received his Doctor of Divinity.
A pastor for more than 15 years, the Rev. James B. Williams pastored White Oak Baptist Church in Lillington, NC; Matthew Chapel AMEZ in Laurinburg, NC; St. Paul AMEZ in McCall, SC; Mt. Zion AMEZ and St. Augustine AMEZ in Carthage, NC; Chapel Grove AMEZ in Maxton, NC; St. John AMEZ in Fayetteville, NC; and Burrington Chapel AMEZ in Carthage NC. He oversaw the renovation of five of the churches he pastored. To the hungry, he offered food. To the sick, he ministered consolation. To the lost, he offered Jesus. He loved people and he never met a stranger. Many lives were saved and changed under his ministry.
Rev. Williams was lovingly known for wearing “high water” pants, white socks and riding down the street with his left hand out of the window, fingers spread and waving at everyone he saw. When he was not preaching the Word of God, Rev. Williams would routinely “steal away” not to Jesus, as old Negro Spiritual says, but he would steal away to the coast of NC with his family, dock his boat in the ocean, cast his line in the water and fish from sun up to sun down. He said “God often spoke to his heart when he was fishing.”
Rev. Williams relocated to Indianapolis, IN in 1996 where he resided until his death. He was preceded in death by his parents Ishmael Byrd and Lena Mae Weems; and his older brother Ishmael “June” Byrd, II.
He leaves to cherish his memories his children: Janice Williams, Robert Williams (Kimberly Williams), Glenda Williams, Minister Vennessa McLaughlin, (Rev. Walter McLaughlin, III) Minister James Williams, II (DeLisa Williams), and Lewis Williams; thirteen grandchildren: Ketrel Elmore, Ashley Elmore, George Edwards, Tiffani Williams, Paris Williams, Desmond Williams, Walter McLaughlin IV, Paige McLaughlin, James Williams III, Brandon Williams, Elisha Williams, Christian Williams, and Nicole Alonzo; eight great-grandchildren: Jeremiah Elmore, Jaydn Lopez, Landon Lopez, Hayden Williams, Kimora Williams, Zachary Williams, Ka-Leigh Williams and Alexis Press; and a host of other relatives and friends. He also leaves to cherish his memories Alberta Wood Williams.
