Josie Williams

WILLIAMS, Mrs. Josie - Age 89, passed away Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at her residence. Family hour 10AM Saturday, December 8, 2007 at Holbrook Avenue Church of God, 1034 E. Holbrook Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11AM. Pastor Leo Robinson officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10AM Saturday. Mrs. Williams will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10AM-8PM Friday. Mrs. Josie (Payton) Williams, affectionately known as "Sister Williams" and "Ole Jo" was born June 27, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the oldest of three daughters born to Robert Lee and Josie (Davis) Payton. Josie's mother died when the girls were very young and they were raised by their grandmother, Minnie "Peaches" Davis. Josie moved to Flint, Michigan as a child. She graduated form Flint Northern High School in 1938. Josie worked at Hurley Hospital as an Elevator Operator and Supervisor for over 30 years. Josie married Clayton Williams on February 4, 1953 and they were married for over 41 years until his death in 1994. Josie was first an active member of the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church as a choir member and soloist. Then, along with her husband Clayton, they founded the Holbrook Avenue Church of God in 1957. She remained an active member in the church until she was no longer able due to her disability. Josie loved doing missionary work with her husband in Flint and abroad traveling to Africa, Barbados, Haiti and Jerusalem, where she was baptized in the Jordan River. Josie served as Holbrook's Choir Director , Sunday School teacher, Missionary Worker, and Kitchen Committee Coordinator. She loved the Lord and the Holbrook Avenue Church of God was her "heart." Josie enjoyed singing, crocheting clothing and beautiful afghans for her family, friends and church bazaars, macrame?, camping, traveling, canning fruits, vegetables, and cooking for her family and church. Josie leaves to cherish her memory: daughters, Ona kay (Wayne) Goza, Charlene Pringle and Bernetta Allen, all of Flint; son, Donald Williams of Battle Creek, MI; special daughters, Joyce Andrews and Dr. Julianne Price; 10 grandchildren, Clayton and Stephen Goza, Maegan-Charjoi and Kristophe Pringle, Gina Lee, Renee (Preston) Jones, Lewis (Renee) Allen, Alva (Virgina) Allen, Sheryl (Wendell) Thompson, and Verna Allen; 14 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren including special great-great granddaughter, N?dia; sister-in-law, Beulah Roman; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including special cousins, Sylvia Love and Houston McKell, the Goza family and the Holbrook Avenue Church of God family. Mrs. Williams was preceded in death by her dear husband, Clayton Williams; parents, Robert and Josie Payton; sisters, Minnie Lee Mabry and Roberta Carson; grandmother, Minnie Davis; and uncle, Richard Davis. The family would like to express special thanks to special caregivers, Mary Clemons (special friend), great-granddaughter, Candice Jones, "T", Janell Robinson (special friend), the staff of Heartland Hospice (Alice, Vickie, Joe, Gert, Amy and Kathy) and Dr. Elmahdi Saeed.

Josie Williams

June 27, 1918 - December 4, 2007