Rev. Dr. Henry Williams, Sr., 87, was born on May 10, 1930 in Florence County, South Carolina to the late Lawrence Derrick Williams and Elizan Eaddy Williams.  He departed this life on Friday, July 7, 2017. Rev. Williams was the eldest of 13 children.  He attended school in Florence County, South Carolina.  Rev. Williams further his education by graduating from Piedmont Bible College in Winston-Salem.

On October 23, 1948 he married Ruby Cooper.  He continued to farm in Lake City, South Carolina until 1953 when he and his family moved to Winston-Salem.  Some of his previous employment included A. C. Reynolds Wrecker and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company where he retired.  He was a Prince Hall Mason of the Olympic Lodge.

Rev. Williams was a member of St. Paul AME Church, Hemingway, SC.  After moving to Winston-Salem, Rev. Williams joined Union Bethel AME Church.  He was called to preach under the leadership of the late Rev. J. R. Bridges.   Rev. Williams pastored in the Western North Carolina Conference for 35 years, with some charges in both the Eastern and Western Districts.  After retirement from pastoring he regularly attended Faith Unity Missionary Church in Winston-Salem until declining health.

Cherishing his memories are his wife, Ruby Williams; two sons, Henry Jr. and Willie;  two daughters, Judy and Jannie; three granddaughters, Shawanda (Robert) Williams, Tiffany Taylor and LaTasha Williams and two great-granddaughters, Amisa Williamson and Kianna Williams all of Winston-Salem; three brothers, Rev. Dr. Hubert (Lula) Williams, Jacob (Cynthia) Williams of Winston-Salem and Alfonza Williams of Charlotte, NC; six sisters, Willie B. W. Singletary, Alberta W. Brown, Jannie W. Funderburk, Luvenia Williams and Lillie (Jerry) Thornton all of Winston-Salem and Eliza W. Spates of Huntersville, NC and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at St. James AME Church.  Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 12noon until 1:00pm on Tuesday at the Church.