Greenville, Texas -
The Rev. Dr. Ray Charles Williams Sr., 59, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Greenville, Texas, for over 21 years, passed away peacefully at home on July 3, 2009. He was born Feb. 17, 1950, in Sparkman, son of Alexander and Gustell Williams.
He was a 1968 graduate of Sparkman Training School. He received a BS in education, Ouachita Baptist University, and a masters divinity, Payne Theological Seminary. He later joined the U.S. Air Force where he served as chaplain, major and received the Meritorious Service Medal. He was a Texas State licensed chemical dependency counselor, marriage and family therapist.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the Rev. Cynthia Wilson Williams, son, Timothy Williams, and father, Alexander Williams.
He is survived by two sons, Ray C. Williams Jr. and Everett Williams of Dallas, Texas; his mother, Gustell Williams of Sparkman; a brother, John Williams of Sparkman; five sisters, Hazel Stewart of Milwaukee, Wis., Rosetta Seals of Inkster, Mich., Juanita Matlock, Gwendolyn Davis, and Linda Perry of Little Rock; mother-in-law Lee Alice Brunson of Little Rock.
Visitation will be on Monday, July 13, in the funeral home 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with family hour 6 -7 p.m. in St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
Funeral will be held on Tuesday, at 1 p.m. in Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Church where the Rev. Thomas Brazil is the pastor. Presiding Elder Rev. C. V. Boyd, officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery by Williams Funeral Home, Inc.
Send condolences to www.funeralsatwilliams.com