Myron L. Williams

Pastor Myron (Mike) Lee Williams, age 93, of Greenville, SC, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, surrounded by many of the family he loved. He was born on July 11, 1932, in Toledo, Ohio, to the late Walter S. and Leona E. (Filiere) Williams.

He graduated from DeVilbiss High School in 1950 and from Bob Jones University in 1954. While attending Emmanuel Baptist Church in Toledo, Myron accepted Christ as his Savior at eight years old.

During his college and graduate school years, Myron was actively involved in evangelistic ministry—holding street meetings, jail services, hospital and rescue mission outreach, preaching in churches, and ministering to chain gangs. He also traveled for two summers with the All4Christ Gospel Team, preaching nightly across many Midwestern and Northeastern states.

Myron met the love of his life, Faye, during their freshman year at BJU. They were married in Toledo in 1954 and joyfully served the Lord together for 74 years (married 71 years). They faithfully served at Emmanuel Baptist Church through preaching, teaching, music ministry, visitation, and Sunday School leadership.

In May 1957, Myron began full-time pastoral ministry when he accepted a call to serve as Assistant Pastor at East Side Baptist Church in Lorain, Ohio, under Pastor Vern Dunham. He was ordained there in November 1957.

This marked the beginning of 60 years of pastoral ministry, including one year as an assistant pastor, forty years as Senior Pastor of churches in New York, Ohio, and Michigan, and nineteen years as Senior Adult Pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina.

Alongside pastoral ministry, Myron founded AFC Ministries, Inc., serving as General Director for 49 years. This outreach focused on worldwide evangelism through prayer, financial support of national workers, and Gospel literature distribution—from their local community (“Jerusalem”) to regions across the state (“Judaea and Samaria”) and to the ends of the earth.

Myron’s heart for missions led him to overseas ministry in more than 40 countries, conducting evangelistic campaigns and pastors’ conferences. He also helped mail Bibles and Gospel literature to many parts of the world. For about 25 years, he and his family operated the Lorain Book & Bible House, a Christian bookstore dedicated to equipping believers.

Throughout the years, he also served on numerous boards and committees for schools, mission organizations, camps, church groups, and pastoral fellowships.

Myron was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Rodney and Dennis; sister-in-law, Mary Jane Williams; son-in-law, Curtis Patterson; grandson Daniel Keith Rebman.

He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Mary Faye (Pettus) Williams; daughters Sharon Patterson (Curtis), Sandi Beckett (Mike), Shellee Phillips (Mike), Sue Gfeller (Chuck), Shirley Montgomery (Scott), Sally Williams, and Shawn Smith (Dave); sons Tim Williams (Winnie – Yun Yang) and Tom Williams (Lynnette – Rickard); sister-in-law, Cornelia (Coker) of Atlanta, GA; sister-in-law, Arloa of Sylvania, OH; 28 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

We also remember the little ones already with Jesus. “He gathers the lambs in His arms.” — Isaiah 40:11

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, November 8, at Morningside Baptist Church (1115 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC 29615), where Myron served as Seniors Pastor for 19 years. The service will also be livestreamed (Morningside LIVE - YouTube).

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Myron’s legacy of reaching the nations with the gospel by supporting Open Door Baptist Missions, a ministry he loved and prayed for faithfully. Contributions will be designated to three specific works in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa—regions especially close to his heart. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FR8E7W247QVD2

For those who prefer, memorial gifts may also be directed to Bob Jones University, his beloved alma mater, or to Morningside Baptist Church, where he joyfully served the Lord.

Myron’s heart beat for two great loves: his family and the gospel. He delighted in every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild, and he spent a lifetime sharing the Savior he loved with people across the world.

“To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” — 2 Corinthians 5:8