Elwood Cleophas Williams

• Thelma

• Uellen

• Myrtis

• Earl

• Ione

• Edwin

• Maxine

• Carl

• Adriane

• Samuel

After joining the US Army at the age of 18, he spent more than 20 years in service to his country including fighting in the Korean War and serving two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. Sergeant First Class Elwood C Williams married my Mom, Jannie Baker, in 1962, after meeting through my oldest sister, Christine Williams. In 1963 mom joined dad in California. Dad had already been relocated to Fort Ord by the Army in ‘62. Here Dad trained future soldiers as a Drill Sergeant, leading from the front, ensuring his soldiers would fall in line and march in time. By the time of Dad’s retirement from the Army in 1968 mom and Dad had chosen to make the Monterey Peninsula their permanent home, buying a house in Seaside, California.

Following his retirement from the Army, Elwood attended and graduated from San Jose State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications with an emphasis in Public Deliberation. Further study was done through Monterey Institute for International Studies where he received credits towards a Masters Degree in Education.

Dad’s second career was with the Monterey County Housing Authority, beginning in 1974. He remained employed there until retirement in 1996, retiring in the role of Director of Housing Programs. After a year of being retired and under foot, mom told Dad to find a way to keep busy, and he took on a part time job at Highland Elementary School. At Highland, dad’s leadership skills once again came into play as he was chosen to work before and after school, assisting kids with homework and being a father figure/ disciplinarian to the wayward boys who needed a little extra love. He eventually retired, finally, to enjoy a love of travel with Jannie, visiting Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean Islands, South America, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia.

An active member of the community, Dad served nine years as a member of the City of Seaside Community Development Advisory Commission. As the Vice Chairman of the Monterey County Department of Services Commission Dad was invited to visit the White House by the Carter Administration. He was a member of the City of Seaside Pop Warner Football Board of Directors. He was a past member of the North Monterey County High School Athletics Booster Club, a Parade dad for Monterey Dance and Twirl, member of the Seaside Kiwanis, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Dad was a life member of the NAACP. He was a Past Master of Peninsula Lodge No 46 and an eight-time Past Worth Patron of Carmelita Chapter No 38, Order of the Eastern Stars. A long-term member of First Baptist Church since the early 1960s, Dad was most recently the Senior Deacon here. Previously, he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of First Baptist Church.

Elwood is preceded in death by his parents and a number of siblings, but also his only son, Elwood Cleophas Williams II, who passed away in 1985. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jannie B Williams, his daughters Christine S Williams of Miami Florida, Adrienne C Martin of Evans Georgia and Kimberly Y B Knight of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and son-in-law, Darren Knight of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. His grandchildren are Ariel Simpson of Evans Georgia and Oliver and Xavier Knight of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.