The Williams-Baldwin Family
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Elerie Donnie "Tom Pino" Williams, Sr. and Leola Baldwin Williams

Elerie Donnie Williams, Sr. was born to John and Carrie Brinkley Williams on July 5, 1894 in Bickley, Georgia (Ware County).  His siblings were Nola, twin brother Bill, Ulysses, Freddie Pino and Willie Pino. "Tom Pino", as he was nicknamed, set out on his own after a squabble with his step-father, Julius Pino.  Determined to make a way for his future, and while  his own, he found and lived in an abandoned shack. On February 2, 1913 he married Leola Baldwin in Telmore, Georgia.  Lee, or "Pal" as Tom affectionately called her, was born on February 15, 1895 in Haywood, Georgia to George and Mary Baldwin. Her siblings included two sisters, Jon and Lula, and two brothers, Sam and Jerry. 

"Daddy Tom" and "Ma Lee" Williams are the parents of 13 children including one child who deceased shortly after birth: Rosa, Princetta, Elerie, Jr., Marie, Lorene, Bill, Carrie, Mary, Isaac (I.G.), Ocie, Alexander, and Martha.  The family lived in Telmore, Georgia until 1940-1941 when Ma Lee, tired of sharecropping, made the "suggestion" to Daddy Tom to become an independent farmer.  The family bought land, moved to Waycross, Georgia and began their new lives as independent farmers. The family turned their own soil, raised their own livestock, employed workers, fed community members of all races, and never returned to sharecropping.  



Rosa Lee Murphy (1913 - 2014)

Rosa Lee (Williams) Murphy was born in Telmore, Georgia on December 7, 1913 departed this life December 1, 2014 surrounded by her loved ones.

Mrs. Murphy was the first of thirteen (13) children born to Elerie D. Williams and Leola Baldwin Williams. She received her educated in Ware County, Georgia.
 
Rosa married Eddie Lee Murphy on October 31, 1931 (seventy years of marriage) and remained his devoted wife until his death on February 14, 2002. Rosa Murphy’s family moved to Brooks County, Georgia in 1938 where she demonstrated togetherness and worked beside her husband on the farm.   After his passing, she continued with the farm until her eyes became too dim in her nineties.  She also worked in her community, her church, and briefly worked at the Brooks County Hospital as a food technician.
 
Mother Rosa was a woman who loved deeply and cared for people, did all she could to help those who crossed her path.  She was often sort out for counsel and advice in situations of life, farming and business.

Mrs. Murphy was named “Mother of the Struggle for Black Farmers” on January 26, 2002.  Her story is part of four (4) years of documentation of working farmers.  This project produced a personal and important collection of photographs now on display at the Reginald Lewis Museum of African History in Baltimore, Maryland as well as a coffee table book of photographs titled “Black Farmers in America,” by John F. Ficara published in February 2006.

 She leaves many behind to cherish precious moments of a life lived well as a servant of the Lord whom she praised daily.
Her children:    Twelve (12) wonderful children: Eddie Lee, Jr. (D*) (Allegra), James Clarence (Thelma), Loretta (D*), Annie Laura (James Paul) Jackson, John Wesley (Louise) D*, Walter Clifford (Vernestine), Jimmy LeVon (Martha), Margaret Edna (Robert) D* Bethune, Linda Sue (Bobby) Owensby, Janice Delaney (Samuel) Jones, Carolyn Elaine Murphy, and Charles Edward (Marlene). Colin L. Murphy, a special grandson, Legal Guardian and cared for him as her own. 26 grandchildren, 65 great grandchildren, 24 great-great-grandchildren
Five Sisters:  Marie Marable, Ocie Dee Slaughter and Martha Silas of Atlanta, GA.  Lorene Williams and Mary White of Waycross, GA
Three Brothers:  Donnie Williams, Bill Williams and Alexander Williams of Waycross, GA  and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends.

 
Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at The Church of God Tabernacle at 11 AM with Dr. Warnell Parker, officiating. Burial will follow in the Simmon Hill Church Cemetery.  Visitation was held on Friday, December 5, 2014 at the Stevens-McGhee Chapel from 12-8PM.



Elrie D. Williams, Jr. (1918 - 2016)

A celebration of life service for Elrie Donnie Williams Jr., 98, was held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 702 Arnold McKinney Drive, with the church pastor, the Rev. Fer-Rell M. Malone Sr., offering words of comfort.

Born March 31, 1918, in Telmore, he was the third child of the late Elrie Donnie Williams, Sr. and Leola Baldwin Williams. He was joined in holy matrimony to Ethel Thomas Aug. 22, 1939. This union was blessed with four children, Edna Reaunette, Donnelle, Edward and Ann.

He received his formal education from the public school system of Ware County. He was retired from CSX Transportation Company with 32 years of service. He had many hobbies which consisted of carpentry, auto mechanics and farming. He is best described as a caring and gentle man always willing to lend a helping hand. He departed this life on Saturday (March 5, 2016) at his residence after an extended illness.

He joined Oak Grove Baptist Church in Telmore at an early age. Later he became a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church where he served on the building committee, trustee board, the Brotherhood of Men of the church and various other organizations.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five siblings, I.G. Williams, Princetta W. Sumner, Rosa W. Murphy, Carrie W. Evers and Lula Lorene Williams.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving and devoted wife of 76 years, Ethel T. Williams; four children, Edna Reaunette Hill Melvin, Donnelle Williams (Earline), Edward Williams (Eva) and Ann Laverne Williams (Lee), all of Atlanta; a grandson that he raised as a son, Jamal Williams, of Atlanta; six siblings, Marie W. Marable, Bill Williams, Mary E. White, Alexander Williams, all of Waycross, Ocie W. Slaughter, of Atlanta, and Martha W. Slias, of Decatur; a sister-in-law, Alice Jordan Williams, of Blackshear; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a special cousin, Leola Inman (Mitchell); special friends, Deacon Joseph W. Rogers and JoAnn Skull; caregivers, Rosetta Johnson Whitfield, Juliette McGauley, Ocilla Young, Jasquella McCray and Shaeketia Black; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Friends will be  received at the Williams residence.  Interment will be in Hazzard Hill Cemetery. Public visitation  at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and Tuesday to the hour of service.


Princetta Williams Sumner (1915 - 1995)

Princetta Williams Sumner, the second of twelve children, was born in Waycross, Ware County, Georgia, on August 22, 1915 to the late Elerie D. Williams, Sr. and Leola Baldwin Williams. During her young adult years she came to Waycross, me and married Clifford G. Sumner, Sr. who also preceded her in death.  To this union eight children were born of which five preceded her in death - Tommie Lee, Larry, Jerry, Clifford, Jr., and Mildred Ann. 

During her young years she cam to Waycross, met and married Clifford G. Sumner,Sr., who preceded her in death. To this union eight children were born of which five preceded her in death - Tommie Lee, Larry, Jerry, Clifford, Jr. and Mildred Ann.

She was educated in Ware County and Waycross School System. She was employed with King Edward Cigar Factory for many years. 

she became a member of the Greater St. Paul Baptist Church and worked faithfully in numerous capacities, She ws a member of the floral club, a former member of the sanctuary choir and d served faithfully and untiringly as president of the Missionary Society for twenty-three years. Serving God was at the center of her life. 

She was a member of the Helping Hands Community Club and the Northside Home & Garden Club. Her daily activities included going to the Senior Citizen Center during the day and reading the Word of God at night. She answered her Almighty Call on Thursday evening, April 27,1995 at Satilla Regional Medical Center. 

Loving memories of her remain with her children: Everette Sumner and wife Joan, Henderson, NV, Twila Sumner, Waycross, GA, and Guanda s. White, Forest Hill, NY.

Interment Hazzard Hill Cemetery.


Carrie Williams Evers 

Lula Lorene Williams (1920 - 2015)


A celebration of life service for Lula Lorene Williams, 94, was  held at Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church with the church pastor, the Rev. Johnny Arnold, offering words of comfort.

Born Oct. 1, 1920 in Telmore, she was the fifth of 12 children of the late Elerie Donnie Williams Sr. and Leola Baldwin Williams. On Tuesday (June 9, 2015) she traded mortality for immortality. Other than her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by four siblings, I.G. Williams, Princetta Summer, Carrie Evers and Rosa Murphy.
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She was joined in holy matrimony to the late Edward James Dyson Jr. and to this union was born, Marvin L. (deceased), William R. and Edward J. III. She later married the late Aaron Smith and to this union was born, Ronzie L. and Monette. After several years, she met and married the late Eddie Williams and with this union six step-children joined her family, Mary Helen, Johnny (deceased), Eddie Jr. (deceased), Margaret, Carlene (deceased) and Mozel.

During her early years, she confessed her life to Christ and joined Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. She always loved being surrounded by loved one and friends. She loved planting and gardening. She was soft-spoken, humble, easy going at all times, always giving and blessing others. Her congenial character won a place in the hearts of those privileged to have known her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Those left to cherish her memory include two sons, Bill Dyson (Marge), of Wyncote, Pa., and Edward Dyson III (Silvonia), of Warner Robins; two daughters, Ronzie Patterson (Alphonso), of Waycross, and Monette Graham (Larry), of Kingsland; another beloved daughter-in-law, Margaret Dyson, of Jacksonville, Fla.; three brothers, Elerie Donnie Williams Jr. (Ethel), Bill Williams and Alexander Williams, all of Waycross; four sisters, Marie Marable, Ocie Slaughter, Martha Silas, all of Atlanta, and Mary White, of Waycross; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public visitation will be held at Fluker Funeral Home 985 Ossie Davis Parkway.
The body will lie in repose Friday at the church from 11 a.m. to the hour of service. The funeral cortege will leave from the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Ronzie and Alphonso Patterson at 12:30 p.m. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Fluker Funeral Home.

I. G. Williams ( 1928 - 1967)

Father. Isaac Gilmore Williams was born on November 22,1928 (d. July 1, 1967) in Telmore, GA and was the ninth child of Elerie Donnie and Leola Baldwin Williams. He received his education from the Ware County School System. In 1950 he married Alyce Jordan and they are the parents of Arthur, McKinley, Beverly, Curtis, Eugene, Eugenia, Jacqueline, Fitzgerald, Isaac and Andrew. I.G. was always known as an inventor.