Samuel S. Williams Sr.

Services for Samuel S. Williams Sr., 86, of Tyler were held Oct. 24 at St. James Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. D.C. Brown officiating.

Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery under direction of Community Funeral Home of Tyler.

Mr. Williams died Oct. 19, 2007 in a Tyler hospital.

He was born June 25, 1921 in Whitehouse. He attended Blackjack School in Whitehouse and was a lifelong resident of Smith County and a member of St. James Missionary Baptist Church, where he was past president of Male Chorus, a deacon, treasurer and Sunday school teacher. He was owner of Williams Cleaners in Tyler. He served as a Boy Scout leader, and was past president of PTA at W.A. Peete Elementary School.

He was preceded in death by son, Samuel S. Williams Jr.; sister, Gladys Lee; and brothers, James Williams, Joseph Williams, O.T. Williams, Menfee Williams and Florence Williams.

Survivors include his wife, Elvie Williams, Tyler; son, the Rev. Cortez Williams, Tyler; daughters, Gloria Williams Hawkins, Tyler, Debbie Williams Brannon and Shirley Williams Johnson, both of Mesquite, and Evelyn Williams Brooks, Carson, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.