Wanda Ann Williams, a dedicated leader in three church congregations passes

Sept. 11, 1949 – Feb. 11, 2015

Wanda Ann Williams, a dedicated leader in three church congregations in Ohio and in Buffalo, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. She was 65.

Mrs. Williams was born in Luxora, Ark., the fourth of 11 children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and completed her master’s at the University of Indiana. She married John W. Williams in 1968.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Williams was guided by her strong Christian faith. She began teaching Sunday school at age 16 at Zion Chapel Baptist Church in Luxora and, when she and her husband moved to Indianapolis, she served as youth supervisor, Sunday school teacher and mission teacher, as well as clerk, at Greater Galilee Institutional Missionary Baptist Church.

She also taught in the Indianapolis public schools until her husband was called as pastor to Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio, in 1979. The Rev. Williams later also took on pastoral duties at two Buffalo churches, Shepherd the New Zion Baptist Church in 1991 and Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in 2004, always aided by his wife.

Mrs. Williams’ favorite scripture passage was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” words which gave her added strength after 2011, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Along with teaching, Mrs. Williams wrote educational material for her churches and served as supervisor of the deaconess board, director of Christian education, personal secretary and youth director. She put a particular focus on programs for Christian women and was honored in 2013 in Memphis as a nominee for the Leading Ladies Award honoring women in the Christian community. In 2014, she was presented with the First Lady of Faith Award at Eastern Star Church.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Yolonda Cheles Williams; her father, Curtis Wilson; six brothers, Jesse Byrd, Orbeny Wilson, Dwight Wilson, Meltorme Wilson, Tony Byrd and Dion Wilson; one sister, Kim Bryant; and one granddaughter.

A homecoming celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 318 High St. A final homecoming celebration will be held Feb. 21 in Toledo.