Mrs. Sherley Williams

Sherley Marie Williams was born on Saturday, July 27, 1957, to the late Stanley and Anita Jones in Houston, Texas. The second of three siblings, Sherley's childhood was filled with love. In 2012, she wrote, "My life is much richer because of the commitment my parents gave to each other and to their children. Probably my greatest memory was learning the lesson of love and commitment. Love and commitment was not a motto in our family; it was a way of life. They aren't taught by words ... they were taught by actions alone." At an early age one special Sunday morning Sherley accepted Christ into her life at her church home. She demonstrated love and commitment through her time as a dedicated member of Jones AME Church, where she served faithfully as an Assistant Ministry Leader, and active Youth Leader, Praise Dance Instructor, and Church Office Administrator. She attended grade school in Houston, Texas, graduating from John H. Reagan High School in the Heights “Class of 1975”. After graduating from high school, Sherley furthered her education at Houston Community College and the University of Houston. She later attended Houston College of Biblical Studies and Immanuel Temple School of the Bible and received her Masters and PhD in Theology from J. Dalton Havard School, Southwestern Theological Seminary Sagemont Campus in Houston, Texas. She found the true love of her life, Henry Lee Williams, and later they were joined in holy matrimony and were married for over forty years. Together, they produced a legacy of three sons, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sherley loved each of them dearly. Whether she was at church, at home, or at work, Sherley carried the attitude of service and worship with her wherever she went. She began her career at Roy Rogers Hamburger Restaurant, Foley’s Department Store and later Southern Pacific Railroad. She is a recent retiree after 27 years of service at Fluor Corporation, where she arrived at the office - many times before dawn - to pray over each of her coworkers before the work day began. "Why do I worship?" Sherley wrote, "To know Him and the power of His resurrection and to express my love to Him. He loved me first and gave His son that I might be freed from the grasp of an enemy who had me bound. Because of His giving, I must give back by expressing my devotion to Him ... If we are dedicated to worshiping God outside of the church building (as a life of passionate worship ought to be) we will see the world around alter its behavior in obvious ways."

Mrs. Sherley Williams

July 27, 1957 - January 2, 2019