William Walter Williams

William was born on June 8, 1923 in Savannah, Tennessee. His parents were William Walter Williams, Sr. and Kate DeShazier Williams. He was the youngest of seven children and his mother’s favorite.

He grew up in Anguilla, Mississippi. His parents were sharecroppers and he started picking and working cotton at eight years of age. He attended one month of school in the first grade, but he wished for more.

He drove mules until he convinced his brother to buy a tractor. He was a good tractor driver and mechanic and knew how to set a plow.

He married Fannie Mae Box on July 2, 1949 in Hollandale, Mississippi. They worked the cotton fields together until their daughter, Lynda, was born.

William moved his family to Texas for a better life in 1952. He started working at Consolidate Steel in Orange as a shipfitter. They lived on a “house on the hill” in Orangefield, when Bro West came knocking on the door and invited them to church.

He had twin boys after moving to Texas ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬- it was a big surprise. Mr. Carter from the general store had someone run to the house to tell William. They didn’t have a phone at their home at that time and William thought that they were pulling a prank on him. His mother had read his coffee grinds and said that he would only have girls (she was a former fortune teller with the circus). He could never tell them apart when they were little unless he got Johnny to smile, he has a dimple. William never did spank them except for the time that they shot out his car windows with BB guns, well they didn’t know that after they shot one the rest would cave in. He yelled “Fannie Mae, where’s the boys?!”

He never missed a day of work. William retired after 31 years of service. He sold cars at Holmes Car Lot in Orange. He helped as a mechanic for Mr. Holmes and drove to Houston to get new vehicles for the lot. He also sold many cars in his front yard to raise extra income.

William was saved in 1953 under Reverend Archie Griffith in Orangefield. He helped to build the original church, which is now Apple Tree School. He also helped to build the present church. William supported the church his entire life. He cooked barbeque brisket for 10 years to raise money for the building program and to help support the church.

He built his own house with the help of his son-in-law, Claud, and his son, Johnny. They also helped Johnny build his home. Jackie helped his parents restore their home after Hurricane Ike.

He drove to Waxahachie, Texas to get four children and raise them. Their mother had died in a fire and he and Fannie drove to the Baptist home and raised them to adulthood: Claud, Don, Buford, and Thema Jane Taylor. They are an extended part of the family to this day.

William died on May 23, 2022 in Orange, Texas, less than one month shy of his 99th birthday. He was getting ready for church when he suffered from a stroke.

The family would like to express their appreciation to all of the people who have helped in the their care in the last few years, especially Brother Tommy and Sister Jenny. A special thanks to Brother Looney for his fine pastoring.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of almost 73 years, Fannie Mae Box Williams, of Bridge City; his children, Lynda Sue Taylor (Claud, deceased) of Orangefield, Johnny Williams (Laurel), and Jackie Williams (Brenda) of Orange; his 12 grandchildren, Claude Taylor (Lorrie), Donna Cormier (Paul), Esther Brown, Douglas Taylor, Rebecca Taylor (Keith Smith), Christopher Williams (Hope), Aaron Williams (Katie), Brent Williams, Ethan Williams, Jessica Williams, Marla Mitchell, and Shaina Williams; his 15 great-grandchildren, Ryan Cormier (Zoe), Gavin Cormier, Ashlyn Taylor, Brianna Taylor, Morgan Brown, Macey Brocklehurst (Brian), Shelbea Taylor, Reece Taylor, Layla Smith, Liam Williams, Clara Williams, Benjamin Williams, Adeline Williams, Melody Mitchell, Brielle Williams; and three great-great-grandchildren, Jackson Brocklehurst, Luna Cormier, Mac Cormier.

Funeral services will be at 2:00, Thursday, May 26, 2022, at Orangefield United Pentecostal Church in Orangefield. Officiating will be Reverend Brandon Looney. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at Orangefield United Pentecostal Church.