Oscar E. Williams Sr.'s Obituary
Soul Stirrers. Pilgrim Travelers. Dixie Hummingbirds. 5 Blind Boys of Mississippi, Sensational Nightingales… these gospel quartets were the voices of gospel music during the 1940s and 50s. Nearly every church had a local gospel quartet and Oscar Williams was a part of that tradition.
Oscar was born on June 15, 1929 in Claiborne, Alabama. The youngest of Lillie Bell and Arthur Williams’ 15 children, he was raised in Mobile, Alabama and recalled that things were “rough at times”. Oscar accepted Jesus Christ at the age of 14 at the Crandall Baptist Church in Mobile. He began singing in kindergarten and church and by the time he reached his teen years he had a smooth tenor baritone voice and was a member of a local gospel quartet. “We sang four-part harmony and we didn't use instruments, we made our own music,” he would say. Oscar remembered attending gospel concerts and hearing the Soul Stirrers when Sam Cooke was lead singer. Later, he would have the honor of singing on the same program with that famous group. He sang for a long time with the local Mobile Soul Stirrers until he stopped in order to work two jobs.
One day while visiting with another member of his quartet, a pretty young lady in a green dress caught his eye. He had just gotten off work at the bakery and was embarrassed because he had flour all over him, but love called! Her name was Annie and his life was changed forever. In 1950 Oscar joined the army to defend our country and the happy couple became engaged before his departure. After his return, Annie and Oscar married on April 25, 1953 and the union was blessed by four children. After completing his time in the army where he served as a military policeman, he later worked as a civilian at McClellan Air Force Base, a career that afforded him the opportunity to travel to France, Vietnam, the Philippines, Korea and Japan. In 1965 the family moved to Sacramento, California, along with many other families who were transferred from Brookley Air Force base in Mobile. Under the pastoral care of Reverend Arthur Brown, Oscar and his family joined Del Paso Union Baptist Church in 1965. He later reunited with DPU under Pastor Donnell Riggins where he served as a faithful member of the Adult Choir and Male Chorus. In 1992, after 36 years, he retired from his work with the federal government. He did not stay idle long and continued to work as a school crossing guard and as a Walmart greeter, as well as a very active and involved grandparent, becoming a regular at school and other social events.
Oscar was known for his extraordinary work ethic (usually having two and three jobs) and for always instilling a love for God, family and honor in his children. He was preceded in death by his adoring wife, Annie, his parents Lillie Bell and Arthur Williams, as well as his 14 siblings. He is survived by his sons, Oscar Williams, Jr. and Derrick Williams, Sr. (Kamo), daughters, Deborah Wroe (Billy) and Pamela Chambers, 12 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, along with a host of sisters-in-love, a brother-in-love, nephews, nieces and friends. He will live in our hearts forever.
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