Obituary for James Thomas Williams
Deacon James T. Williams Sr., 68 was born Jan. 14, 1951 in Cleveland, OH to parents, Leon and Carrie Williams. Deacon James Williams went home to be with The Lord peacefully April 4, 2019, 10:45 pm at Kingston Care Center, Sylvania, OH. He was preceded in death by both parents and William Young, grandparents, Agnes Williams, Thomas Williams, Joseph and Addie Smith, James Stibbins; and sister, Jimetta Stevens Lee.
He accepted Christ at a early age and was baptized at Mt. Olivant Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH. After attending schools in Cleveland and Toledo, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served four years and was honorably discharged. He later united with Christian Community Church where he was ordained a Deacon by the late Dr. Gregory Smith. He later became one of the founding members of the Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor John D. Walthall III. He served as Chairman of The Deacon Board, superintendent of Sunday School, coordinated the church annual picnics, played his bass guitar with the choir and whatever else was needed to be done for the church. He also played his bass guitar with the group Jelise and Co. He also helped organize the Night Sunday School with various deacons.
He had many jobs, but his main passion was painting. He and his friend the late Aaron Purdy formed a painting partnership until Deacon became ill in 2007. He loved to hunt, fish, cook, bake, especially those coconut and red velvet cakes. He was the official "coon" cooker for the Holidays. Last but not least Deacon loved anybody's fried chicken. He used to say "if you let a chicken in his front door he guaranteed he'll never make it out the back". He truly loved people and was a people person. Rest easy Marine "Semper Fi".
He is survived by his children, James "Tom Tom" Williams Jr., Kim (Alex) Hill, Kevin (Jan) Staples; seven grandchildren,Trey (Keirra), Deon, Tiarra, Tommi, Kayla, DelRay, Andrayla; nine great grandchildren, Jordan, Braiden, Thomas, Deon, Tremaines, Phoenix, Onyx, Keshawn, Kelaya and Harmony; brothers, Leon Williams, Leonard (Rosalind) Williams, Billy (Lisa) Young; sisters, Carolyn Young and Addie Young; and a host of other relatives and friends in Toledo, Cleveland, Texas, and Minnesota.
He accepted Christ at a early age and was baptized at Mt. Olivant Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH. After attending schools in Cleveland and Toledo, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served four years and was honorably discharged. He later united with Christian Community Church where he was ordained a Deacon by the late Dr. Gregory Smith. He later became one of the founding members of the Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor John D. Walthall III. He served as Chairman of The Deacon Board, superintendent of Sunday School, coordinated the church annual picnics, played his bass guitar with the choir and whatever else was needed to be done for the church. He also played his bass guitar with the group Jelise and Co. He also helped organize the Night Sunday School with various deacons.
He had many jobs, but his main passion was painting. He and his friend the late Aaron Purdy formed a painting partnership until Deacon became ill in 2007. He loved to hunt, fish, cook, bake, especially those coconut and red velvet cakes. He was the official "coon" cooker for the Holidays. Last but not least Deacon loved anybody's fried chicken. He used to say "if you let a chicken in his front door he guaranteed he'll never make it out the back". He truly loved people and was a people person. Rest easy Marine "Semper Fi".
He is survived by his children, James "Tom Tom" Williams Jr., Kim (Alex) Hill, Kevin (Jan) Staples; seven grandchildren,Trey (Keirra), Deon, Tiarra, Tommi, Kayla, DelRay, Andrayla; nine great grandchildren, Jordan, Braiden, Thomas, Deon, Tremaines, Phoenix, Onyx, Keshawn, Kelaya and Harmony; brothers, Leon Williams, Leonard (Rosalind) Williams, Billy (Lisa) Young; sisters, Carolyn Young and Addie Young; and a host of other relatives and friends in Toledo, Cleveland, Texas, and Minnesota.