Evelyn B. Williams

On November 5, 1921, Walter King and Mattie Clark King were blessed with their daughter, Evelyn Beatrice King, in Colena, Alabama.   When she was a young girl, the family moved to Colp, Illinois where her father found work as a miner in the Number 9 Mining Company in Colp, Illinois.

She attended and graduated from Attucks Grade School and Herrin Township High School, both in Colp , Illinois as Evelyn B. Oden because of her mother’s remarriage. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Shaffer Chapel A.M.E. Church in Colp.  As a young woman she committed her musical talent playing the piano to God and played for the church for many years until she moved to Danville in 1970.  She also played for Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Colp.  The churches worked out their starting times so she could play for both churches on Sunday mornings. 

She retired from the Allen Industries, Inc. in Herrin, Illinois in 1969 prior to moving to Danville. For a few years, she volunteered to work for the Election Commission of Williamson County at the polling place in Colp.

On   December 31, 1969, she married Otis Williams and soon moved to Danville.  She became a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church along with her husband.  Later she became known as Mother Williams.  She began to serve the Lord as a trustee and treasurer of the church. The trustees marveled at her mathematical skills.  She loved working crossword puzzles.  She was good with words and was an excellent speller. She was often called upon in bible study to help with the pronunciations of difficult words in the bible.  

On December 20, 2019, after a lengthy illness and 98 years of life, Mother Williams completed her earthly assignment. Touching many lives as she journeyed on, God called her home to be with Him.   She indeed kept the faith and fought a good fight.  We will certainly miss her smile, laughter, sense of humor and loving attitude.  She was affectionately called Mother Williams, Mama Evelyn, Aunt Ev, Ma Evelyn Aunt Evelyn and Gramma Wedy. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Otis Williams, two sisters, Gladys Copening and Louise Jenkins; son, Larry E. Martin, Sr. and  wife, Ruth;  special nephews, Winston McCurdy, Sr. whom she raised and Winston Jr.

 She leaves to cherish her memory: one devoted daughter, Carolyn Oden-Webb (formerly Tutman) of Danville; two grandchildren, Larry E. Martin, Jr., Andrea L. Martin and special grandson, Robert Bryant; one great granddaughter, Skye Bryant, all of Minneapolis, Minnesota; four nieces, Darthell McCurdy, Tina (Tommie), Jana, Jacinda and nephews, Jared Wofford and Troy McCurdy; nieces, Andrea Williams, and daughters Dorries, Kajari, Leila and nephew Greg;  godchildren, C. L. and Cornelius Robinson’s family, Jamar, Erica, David, Lexie, Cameron, Raven, Zakhy’ia, Kaliyah, and Devon;  special daughters, Jean Coe, Janice Washington, Mother Frances, Little Frances and Anna Bryant, Corena Newell and Loretta Darnell; special Sons Johnny, Robert and Roosevelt Bryant; a host of in-laws, cousins, friends, and Pastors Charles & Wendy Hargrove and church family at Word of Life Love Ministries.

A Homegoing Celebration will commence at 11:00 a.m. Friday December 27, 2019 at Leek & Sons Funeral Home, 304 E. Williams St. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Officiating: Apostle Charles Hargrove Sr. Funeral services will also commence at 12:00 Noon Saturday December 28, 2019 at Shaffer Chapel A.M.E. Church, 300 Martin Luther King St. Colp Il. 62129. A wake service will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Condolences may be sent to www.leekandsonsfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Evelyn B. Williams, please visit our floral store.