Rev. RJ Williams

He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, teacher, leader, and youth sports coach. Most of all, he was a servant of God. RJ Williams was born on June 28, 1948, the sixth child among sixteen, to Rozena MacDonald Williams and Chancie C. Williams Sr. in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He graduated from Merrill Junior/Senior High School in Pine Bluff in 1966. In 1997, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He also completed some graduate course work in Theology at the Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He was licensed in the ministry on August 25, 1991 at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Fred Luter, Jr. He was ordained on September 8, 1996 at Pilgrim Valley Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas under the pastorate of the late Rev. William B. Fields. In addition to the state of Texas, Rev. Williams also preached and taught Baptist, AME, and CME congregations in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. He worked in various church ministries such as Sick/Convalescent Home, Youth Church, Vacation Bible School, Male Chorus, Evangelist & Revivalist Mission, Brotherhood, Prayer Warriors, and Sunday School. Rev. Williams was a retired Army Sergeant First Class with extensive experience in law enforcement. He also worked as an elementary school teacher in the Houston Independent School District and Little Rock School District. Most recently, he served as an Associate Minister and Sunday School Superintendent/Teacher at Bella Vista Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas under both Rev. Calvin J. Abraham and Rev. Jacari P. Davis. On September 7, 2014, Rev. Williams departed this life. He was preceded in death by his father, Chancie C. Williams Sr; his brother Earnest Williams and his sisters, Dorothy Williams and Shirley Williams Bennett. Rev. Williams leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 18 years, Jocelyn V. Williams of Katy, TX; his mother Rozena Williams of Pine Bluff, AR; his sons, RJ Williams II of Katy, TX; Reginald J. Williams of Cincinnati, OH; his daughter Rhonda L. Williams of San Antonio, TX; his grandson Jamison C. Williams of San Antonio, TX; and his granddaughter Mariah Williams of San Antonio, TX; his brothers, Ben Williams of Pine Bluff, AR; Bobby Williams of Covington, GA; Sammy (Cheryl) Williams of Pine Bluff, AR; Chancie C. Williams Jr. of Crossett, AR; Jimmy Williams of Flint, MI; Teddy Williams of Little Rock, AR; LC (Cynthia) Williams of Allenhurst, GA; Rickey Williams of Jacksonville, AR; Carroll (Jackolyn) Williams of Crossett, AR; his sisters, Irene Williams of Pine Bluff, AR; Sharlene Stewart of Little Rock, AR; Brenda Williams of Little Rock, AR; niece Jacquelyn Henderson of Pine Bluff, AR; his parents-in-law Col James C. (Thelma) Crump, Jr, USAF (Ret.), Sacramento, Ca; brother-in-law, James C. (Sandy) Crump III, Roseville, CA and a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, and special friends.