Sampson Williams

WILLIAMS, Mr. Sampson - Age 76, departed this life peacefully, Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at Avalon Hospice. Funeral service 11AM Monday, January 11, 2010 at First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 1226 Beach St., Pastor F.O. Hockenhull officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11AM Monday. Mr. Williams will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 9AM-3PM Sunday. Afterwhich Mr. Williams will be taken to First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for family hour from 6-8PM Sunday. Mr. Sampson Alexander Williams was born September 24, 1933 in Natchez, Mississippi, the thirteenth child of thirteen children born to Etta Salome Williams and Odesie (Otis) Williams. Sampson early school education was at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi until he volunteered to serve his country during the Korean Conflict. His mother had to give him permission to join the military because he was only 17. In the U. S. Army, he was stationed in France and Germany as a part of the Engineering Corp responsible for building hospitals and schools. Thus, starting a life-long passion for construction and maintaining houses. Sampson was a hardworking man. After his military career ended in the early 1950’s, he moved to Flint, Michigan and started working at General Motors. Even though he worked full-time at General Motors as a pipe fitter, he used his knowledge in the building industry to support his part-time passion for construction and home maintenance. He was probably more knowledgeable about the local building codes of the surrounding municipalities than the housing inspectors. Sampson repaired a huge number of houses in Flint as his part-time job. Even though he retired from General Motors in 1986 after thirty years, he continued his passion for construction until the last few weeks of his life. Sampson Alexander was baptized at an early age in Rodney, Mississippi and thus began his life-long Christian service. He was a dedicated member of First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church. Early in his church service, he served as the Church School Superintendent. Sampson also blended his voice singing praise as a member of the Male Chorus. On July 31, 1965, he married Margaret Ellington. They enjoyed a full 44 years together traveling and sightseeing across the country. One of his favorite places was museums of old farm equipment. His life reflected his belief in taking care of family. He liked to reflect on his early upbringing on the family’s land in Mississippi cutting timber, and later working on the family’s farm in Pennsylvania. Sampson drove his excursion van across the country to visit family and friends. Their life together was truly an example of a blended family. As the youngest of thirteen children, he was accustomed to large family gatherings. He continued this with his own four children, Jeffrey, Tanya, Valerie and Marquise. As if having four children was not enough, his family grew to nine grandchildren, Latrica, Marcella, Christol, Melissa, Kordell, Dariel, Michael, Cherese and Nicole. And, five great-grandchildren, Marlon, Christopher, Gregory, Uormajesty, and T’mya. To cherish his memory, he leaves to mourn his wife, Margaret of Grand Blanc, MI; three daughters, Tanya M. Jones, Valerie L. Williams-Holmes, Marquise C. Anderson; son, Jeffrey A. Williams, all of Flint; grandchildren, Latricia Williams, Marcella Jones, Christol Jones, Melissa Jones, Kordell Johnson, Dariel Anderson IV, Michael Holmes, Jr., Cherese Holmes and Nicole Holmes; and great-grandchildren, Marlon Ballard, Christopher Ballard, Gregory McGhee, T’mya Dudley and Uormajesty Simpson; a host of nieces and nephews; sister, Mary Lee Williams of Pittsburgh, PA; two brothers, Leandrew (Connie) Williams of Pittsburgh, PA, Tyree (Betty) Williams of Flint; sisters-in-law, Margaret (Leon), Willie Mae (Johnnie) Jackson of Akron, OH, Christine (Robert) Dancy of Detroit, MI, Louise (James) Johnson of Cleveland, OH, Bertha King of Huntsville, AL; brothers-in-law, Arthur J. (Rubye) Ellington, Joseph Jr. (Eva) Ellington; and a host of other relatives and friends including special friends, Johnie B. Hawthorne and Floyd Burns. Mr. Williams was preceded in death by parents, Otis and Etta Williams; 5 sisters; 4 brothers and son-in-law, Michael Holmes, Sr. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor F. O. Hockenhull and First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church family, doctors Latchana, Peram and Akl, the staff of Avalon Hospice and friends in general.

Sampson Williams

September 24, 1933 - January 5, 2010