Bishop George Alton Williams

Bishop George Alton Williams, son of George and Martha Williams, born on December 26, 1927, in Irwin County, Georgia.  After an encounter with the Lord, George was led to join, and was baptized at, Mathis Chapel Baptist Church, where he served on the church choir. After prayerfully understanding the responsibility of a husband to a wife, he accepted that responsibility in his spirit and heart and began seeking for a Christian young lady to marry. In 1948, he was introduced to Myrtice L. Harris by one of her friends. After learning that Myrtice was a devoted Christian young woman, he knew she was the type of person he was seeking to marry. On January 30, 1949, George and Myrtice were united in Holy matrimony. The Lord blessed them with six children: the late Assistant Supervisor Jacqueline Clay, Kenneth Leon, the late Anthony Vernon, Bishop Marvin, the late Zonder DeVon, and Princeciner Renee.

Around the age of twenty-three, Brother Williams was saved. It was the providence of God that one day Brother Williams and his wife, Myrtice, attended the Union Holiness church during the prayer meeting on a Tuesday night. On that same night, the church mother extended a personal invitation to Brother George for prayer. It was then that he learned how to call on the name of the Lord and to seek for the Holy Ghost. From that night, his testimony remained that he has “never been a backslider.”

Brother Williams was appointed to the office of Deacon, and he served in that position under the leadership of the late Elder J. W. Graham. In 1954, Deacon Williams moved his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  In that same year, he preached his first sermon under the leadership of the late Bishop Bruce Madison Oakley.  The late Bishop O.T. Jones Sr., of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ, ordained Minister George Williams an Elder in 1958.

By permission, on November 26, 1957, Elder Williams founded the Rehoboth Church of God in Christ in the home of his late brother Reverend Aaron Williams. The first service was held on a Sunday morning in the living room, where a small group of people met.  Pastor Williams stood at one end of the room, with his back to the dining room, while he delivered his first pastoral message, “A Wean Child” from the book of Samuel.  After preaching a stirring message, Pastor Williams then gave the invitation for the reception of members and nine people joined.  Less than a week later, Pastor Williams and his late wife, Myrtice, used their meager family savings and invested it in the ministry.  He rented the first floor of a three-story apartment house located at 3107 N. 15th Street.  

The Lord has blessed Bishop George A. Williams has achieved numerous accomplishments over the years.   In 1965, he received a Doctor of Divinity for Trinity Hall College and Seminary.  On February 18, 1967, he became the Chairman of the Board of Elders and appointed Superintendent of the East District under the leadership of Bishop Dewitt A. Burton.  In 1970, Bishop received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from Grambling University.  In 1971, through the providence of God, Dr. Williams, the dedicated Board of Deacons and Trustees, and the loyal membership, purchased the building located at 1210 West Wyoming Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Rehoboth presently remains. In 1973, Superintendent Williams, along with Rehoboth, became part of the Pennsylvania Western Jurisdiction. He was then appointed as Superintendent of the Headquarters District under Bishop G. E. Vaugh’s leadership.  In 1987, Bishop expanded Rehoboth by adding 50X70 feet to the existing building.  On July 10, 1988, Bishop Chandler D. Owens, the late former presiding Bishop, dedicated the new facilities to the Lord.

Several ministers began pastoring under the leadership of Bishop Williams: Dr. Barry E. Connelly (Cathedral of Faith Full Gospel Baptist Church), the late Elder Aaron Williams (Emmanuel Full Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ), the late Elder Leonard Harris (Spirit and Truth Church of God in Christ), Bishop Vernon I. Prioleau, Sr., (Canaan Church of God in Christ), the late Elder W. J. Williams (Mount Sinai Holiness Church of God in Christ), Elder Larry Dodson (Saints Tabernacle Outreach Ministries Church of God in Christ), The late Elder Ruben Hawkins (Prayer and Praise Church of God in Christ), the late Elder Larry Wilson, Sr., (New Covenant Church of God in Christ), and Superintendent Curtis T. Schley (Life Changing Word Church of God in Christ).                                                  .  

The late Presiding Bishop J. O. Patterson Sr. and the Board of Bishops of the Church of God in Christ consecrated Superintendent George A. Williams to the sacred office of Bishop on November 10, 1986, during the Holy Convocation in Memphis Tennessee.  Upon returning from Memphis, Bishop Williams dismantled the Keystone District and organized the Pennsylvania Keystone Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. 

After the demised of his wife, Bishop met, and soon after proposed, to District Missionary Sherly Burton of New Haven, Connecticut. Prior to meeting Bishop Williams, Mother Sherly Williams had just completed a year of self-examination, consecration, and recommitment of herself to the work of the Lord.  After meeting Bishop Williams, the Lord impressed upon her without question, that Bishop George A. Williams was her divine assignment to love and care for him.  They joined in Holy Matrimony on December 26, 2008. Bishop George A. Williams was a loving husband and best friend to Mother Shirley Williams for sixteen years and eleven months. Mother Williams found personal inspiration in Bishop Williams’ continual encouragement for the congregation to carry a “Big Bag of Forgiveness,” as referenced from St. Matthew 18:21-22, because you never know how many times that you might have to forgive someone in one day.                                            

Mother Sherly Williams is the proud mother of Kristin Nicole Burton of Southern Maryland, who fondly loved Bishop George A. Williams as her “Bonus Dad.”  

On December 28, 2015, Bishop Williams, having already appointed his son, Elder Marvin Williams to be his successor as pastor of Rehoboth, submitted a request to the former Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake and presidium during the 109th Holy Convocation, that Elder Marvin Williams be consecrated to the office of “Auxiliary Bishop” in November 2016.  Also, in November 2016 Bishop George A. Williams was appointed to the Church of God in Christ General Assembly Advisory Board by Bishop Lemuel Thuston.

Bishop George A. Williams, founder of Rehoboth Church of God in Christ, founder of Headquarter District, and founder of the Pennsylvania Keystone Jurisdiction, served as the Jurisdictional prelate for 31 years. In November 2016, Bishop George A. Williams, after careful thought and fervent prayer, became “Prelate Emeritus.”  

Bishop George A. Williams was preceded in death by his parents, George and Martha Williams; one daughter, Jacqueline Williams-Clay; two sons, Anthony Vernon and Zonder Devon: four brothers, Aaron, Albert, John, and Van; five sisters, Fannie Barriner, Georgiann Butts, Annette Clayton, Mildred Fuller, and Gertude Stewart. 

Bishop George A. Williams leaves a legacy to cherish: his wife, Mother Sherly Williams, two sons; Kenneth Williams, Bishop Marvin Williams (Evangelist Sandra); three daughters, Irma Jean Johnson, Princeciner Renee’ Williams, Kristin Nicole Burton; seventeen grandchildren, David Clay, George Clay (Tanya), Richard Guillen, Kahlia Williams, Vernon Williams, Aja’ Williams, Aaron Huff, Shawnna Myrtice Williams-Shaul (Donald), Donna Holmes (Derrick), Mikia Cobb (Guy), Myrtice Lee Williams-Weston (Elder Quinzell), Adeline Fraser (David), Brandon Major, I’sha Freeman, Devon Adams, D’Vone Williams, and She’Vonne Renee’ Myrtice Weekes; two siblings, Deacon Floyd Williams, Evangelist Gaynell Snead (Deacon James), thirty-three great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren, three Godchildren, Rosalind Simpson, Denean Lett, and Lamont Veal, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

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