Pastor Henry Williams

A Portrait of the Life of Pastor Henry James Williams

A blessed gift was bestowed upon the union of Abram and Ples Williams when their second child, Henry James Williams, was born. He was delivered in Madison Parish near Omega, Louisiana, on July 20, 1944. Having been reared in the creed of the Baptist Church, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized in 1955 by the late Reverend Frank Wilson at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Omega, Louisiana. As a child, he was taught to pray with many scriptures. In 1982, he accepted and embraced his charge, as declared in the scripture II Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge thee, therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” He was ordained December 17, 1982, by the late Rev. E. Baldwin, moderated and represented in the Council by the late Rev. Ed Kline, Rev. F.W. Wilson, Rev. T.I. Isreal, Rev. Major Williams, and (Living) Rev. Willie J. Hardy at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. On December 25, 1964, he was united in Holy Matrimony to his Forever Sweetheart, the former Ethel Mae Thornton. This union was blessed with 16 children, collectively. His third eldest son died in infancy. Also preceding him in death is his son, James “Bobo,” and his daughter, Angelena. His marriage to his beloved sweetheart spanned 55 years, until her passing on July 10, 2020. He was a product of the Madison Parish School System. Having little education, he was full of wisdom and knowledge that was beyond teachable. He served on board at the Madison Parish Nursing Home V.P. on M.P.B.A. He was elected Alderman in District 2 for four years in Tallulah, Louisiana. He was allotted many opportunities to travel and experience many places with the Black National Baptist Convention and in doing so, he received much knowledge that would help enhance his ministry. After being ordained, he became the Pastor and Leader of New Zion Vicksburg (March 1983), Pleasant Hill (November 1983), Mt. Calvary, Mer Rouge, Tallulah (January 1984), and New Mt. Pilgrim, Vicksburg (May 1995) until his death. Early Monday morning, September 7, 2020, the hourglass with its sands of time slowly spilled its contents, and with the passing of the last sand went the last breath of a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a great-great-grandfather, a brother, the family patriarch, pastor, and friend. He leaves to celebrate his life and legacy: his sons, Douglas Thornton of Baton Rouge, Henry Boykins, Gerald (Sandra) Williams, Dexter (Kimberly) Williams, John (Ariel) Vaughn (Tallulah), Justin (Kristi) Bass of Ruston, LA, and James Holmes of Las Vegas, NV; daughters, Juanita Thornton, Renee (Charles) Fountain, Stacy (Calvin, Sr.) Henton of Tallulah, LA, Donna Thornton, Latonya Foster of Las Vegas, NV, and Kimberly (Wilson) Matthews of Lake Providence, LA; three sisters, Linda Dallas of Milwaukee, Dorothy (Ray) Davis, and Alma Kendrick (Tallulah); three godchildren, Barbara Fair of Las Vegas, Tory Fletcher (Tallulah), and Dr. Ortandis Wells of Henderson, NV; a granddaughter he raised as his, Shumyel (Ronnie, Jr.) Washington; 60 grands; 72 great-grands; three great-great-grands; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. 

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