- Collection:
- African American Funeral Programs from the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System
- Title:
- A celebration of the life and homegoing of Mrs. Willie Viola (Elim) Williams, sunrise, 1904, sunset 2006, Thursday, June 29, 2006, 1:00 p.m., Elim Baptist Church, Augusta, Georgia, Reverend C.D. Roberts, officiating
- Date of Original:
- 2006-06-29
- Subject:
- African American women--Georgia--Augusta--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--Georgia--Augusta--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--Georgia--Augusta--History--20th century
Funeral service--Georgia--Augusta--History--20th century
Mourning customs--Georgia--Augusta--History--20th century
African Americans--Georgia--Augusta--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Richmond County, Augusta, 33.47097, -81.97484
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
image/jpeg - Description:
- Program for the June 29, 2006 funeral of Willie Viola Williams.
Original program scanned by OCLC for the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System and described and presented by the Digital Library of Georgia as a part of Georgia HomePLACE: an initiative of the Georgia Public Library Service and GALILEO. - External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/funeral/id:williams20060629
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_fpro_williams20060629
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of program], Eula M. Ramsey Johnson Memorial Funeral Program Collection, Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System System, as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.
- Original Collection:
- Eula M. Ramsey Johnson Memorial Funeral Program Collection, Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System, Augusta, Georgia
- Holding Institution:
- Augusta-Richmond County Public Library
- Rights:
-
Cek6ration oftffie Life e ffomegoing of
Mrs. WiC&e Viota (<ECim) Williams
SUNRISE
1904
SUNSET
2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006 1:00 p.m.
</tw (Baptist Church
Augusta, Georgia
Reverend C. D. Roberts , ~ Officiating ~
uteOf gfi the \ good to Me!"
Leave You
)u for a little while md shed wild tears you through the years, with a gallant smile id in His name, things the same, ess on empty days JUT in useful ways, comfort and in cheer you and hold you near, be afraid to die with Jesus in the sky.
Obituary
"(Down through the years, the Lords been good to me!"
On December 28,1904, WiCKe VioCa (<ERm)(Burfy Wittia.ms,
was born into this world. On June 23, 2006, the last chapter in her life came to a close. Violas parents were Will "PaPa" Elim and Mary "Mamie" Johnson Elim. For the past 49 years she has been affectionately known as "MaMa."
"MaMa" grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ as her Savior when she was nine years old. She joined Elim Baptist Church in 1913. She was fondly referred to as "Elims oldest attending member and the Mother of the Church." When she was able, she faithfully sup ported the mission and other ministries in Elim. During her later years, she attended Harmony Baptist Church with her granddaughter and fam ily but always reserved a special endearment towards her church family -Elim.
Mrs. Williams attended Fifth Ward School and graduated from Weed Academy in 1920 with an 8th grade education. In her earlier years, she was a nurturing sister, devoted wife and homemaker. When she was 18 years old, she married Albert "Mule" Burke. They had four children, Alberta (deceased), Harry (deceased), Harold (deceased), and Willie Edward. Some years later, Albert died and later married James "Goat" Williams. Mr. Williams died in 1961. She worked tirelessly through the years as a lunchroom cook in the Richmond County School System, housekeeper in the community, and caterer with Smoakes Bakery and Catering Service. Upon "retirement," in her quiet mild-mannered fash ion, she became the "neighborhood missionary/social worker." She of ten made personal visits and telephone calls to the sick and shut-in. She prepared meals, did their laundry, cleaned their kitchens, cooked meals, fed their pets and even helped with their yard work.
"MaMa" lived a modest unassuming life that fostered values of trusting God in everything, the power of prayer and seed faith. She would often say, "look like youre somebody, act like youre somebody; because you are somebody." When asked for the secret to her longev ity, she always responded: "I dont know I just dont worry about nothing. I take it to the Lord and pray three times a day." (If you pressed for more, shed share other nuggets of wisdom). She loved her family, her church, her friends, and her neighborhood, but most of all was her love for the Lord. She was proud and very independent but generous with all that she had.
To cherish her memory are: her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Willie "Sonny Edward (Valerie) Burke, Vallejo, CA; grandson, Mr. Willie Albert Burke, Augusta, GA; granddaughter, "Mikka" Benzes, Vallejo, CA; granddaughter and "grandson", Mr. and Mrs. Clarence (Vanessa) Stanley, Jr., Augusta, GA; six nieces, Maggie Tate, Loria Jones, Lee Shorty, Mariah Bowman, Jonell OBryant, and Theresa "Terri" Elim; nine nephews, George Elim, Ernest Bowman Jr., Frank Bowman, James Bowman, Richard Elim, Lonnie Owens, Henry Elim, Louis Owens, and Oscar Harper Sr.; a host of other grandchildren, Harriet B. Grant, Marjorie Burke, "Teddy" Burke and Patricia Burke; great-grandchildren, especially Rosharna Stewart and Samhari Stanley; great-great-grandchildren, es pecially Arionna Stanley; grandnieces and nephews, cousins, family and dear friends.
OR THE SERVICE
(Patt6earers
aptist Church Baptist Church
Pendants
iptist Church
(gement. . .
at quietly in a chair, so, we saw them there, s,
en,
t,
your part.
ihari, Arionna and Family
jsted To
Augusta, Georgia 809 ), Let Them Be Beautiful"
,. O ( i