Obituary for Bishop Tommy Lee Williams
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them
also that love his appearing."
II Timothy 4:7,8
Bishop Tommy Lee Williams was the Pastor of the Greater
Deliverance Church of God, Inc. on 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Ave, Mobile, AL 36617. He departed this life on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
Bishop Williams was a retiree of Mobile Area Water & Sewer System
(MAWSS) where he was the Plant Manager at the E. M. Stickney Water
Filtration Plant on Moffett Road in Mobile, Alabama. He retired after
35 years and 5 months of service.
Bishop Williams made reservations for his heavenly home when he
received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in
tongues on December 10, 1982. And, he has been packed since that day.
As he so often said, he made reservations because, “death is an
appointment that everyone must keep”.
He served faithfully as a devoted member at the Church of God
Pentecostal Happy Hill under the leadership of Bishop Zackariah Moore.
He was on the Deacon Board, a Sunday School teacher, the Youth
Department President, and a choir member, among many other
capacities.
As the ministry moved to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue, Bishop
Williams continued to support his pastor. He served on the Trustee
Board. He was elevated when the Lord called him to preach the Gospel.
He later became an Ordained Elder and served in many capacities in the
COGP organization, including Treasurer and District Elder.
Bishop Williams was dedicated to his pastor’s ministry for over 16 years
before becoming the Assistant Pastor in August 1999. He remained
Assistant Pastor for over eight (8) years, honoring his beloved pastor.
After the Lord called Bishop Zackariah Moore home, he became Pastor
on January 27, 2008. He was elevated to the office of Bishop on August
16, 2015.
Before his beloved pastor went home to be with the Lord, the church
branched out and became Church of God Pentecostal MLK, Inc. and was
later renamed Greater Deliverance Church of God, Inc.
Bishop Tommy Williams graduated from C. F. Vigor High School. He
attended Bishop State Community College and the University of South
Alabama. He received a degree in Chemical Technology.
Bishop Williams was a firm believer in moving forward in the Gospel.
We often called him the “People’s Pastor”. He visited the hospitals,
nursing homes, the prisons, Wings of Life and other rehabilitation
centers offering prayers, encouragement and spreading the Gospel. He
loved people, especially the household of faith. He encouraged
everyone to support their pastor and their local church.
Bishop Williams was born in Prichard, Alabama. He was preceded in
death by his mother, Mother Helen Williams; his grandson, Eric “EJ”
Williams, Jr; and his brothers, Nelson White, Jr, Elder George White,
and Alphonse Williams.
He leaves to cherish his memories the love of his life, a loving and
devoted wife of 35 years, Teacher Victoria Williams who he married on
December 19, 1987; two sons, Travis (Bridgette) Williams and Eric
(Malencia) Williams, both of Mobile, AL; one daughter, Tiffany
Williams of Huntsville, AL; three granddaughters, Torreigh Helen
Williams, Grace Noel Elias and Orianna Smith; one brother, Rocelious
(Barbara) Williams, of Las Vegas, NV; four sisters, Mother Shirley
Jackson of Semmes, AL, Diane (Attorney Johnbull) Nwosu of Atlanta,
GA, Mother Brenda Sigler of Birmingham, AL and Yvonne Loretta
Williams of Mobile, AL; Father and Mother in law, Minister James
(Mother Betty) Armstrong, Sr of Moss Point, MS, three brothers in law,
James (Tywana) Armstrong, Jr of Ocean Springs, MS, Kelvin (Evelyn)
Armstrong, Sr of Rockwall, TX and Michael (Karen) Armstrong, Sr of
Jacksonville, FL; 4 sisters in law, Mother Annie White of Mobile, AL,
Rebecca Latimore, Jennifer (Alexander) Lett and Rachel Armstrong, all
of Moss Point, MS; Spiritual Mother, Mother Clinice Hughes; Godsons,
Zae’Korrous Page and DayShaun Traylor; a host of devoted nieces and
nephews; cousins, other relatives and friends. And, the Greater
Deliverance Church of God, Inc. church family.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them
also that love his appearing."
II Timothy 4:7,8
Bishop Tommy Lee Williams was the Pastor of the Greater
Deliverance Church of God, Inc. on 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Ave, Mobile, AL 36617. He departed this life on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
Bishop Williams was a retiree of Mobile Area Water & Sewer System
(MAWSS) where he was the Plant Manager at the E. M. Stickney Water
Filtration Plant on Moffett Road in Mobile, Alabama. He retired after
35 years and 5 months of service.
Bishop Williams made reservations for his heavenly home when he
received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in
tongues on December 10, 1982. And, he has been packed since that day.
As he so often said, he made reservations because, “death is an
appointment that everyone must keep”.
He served faithfully as a devoted member at the Church of God
Pentecostal Happy Hill under the leadership of Bishop Zackariah Moore.
He was on the Deacon Board, a Sunday School teacher, the Youth
Department President, and a choir member, among many other
capacities.
As the ministry moved to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue, Bishop
Williams continued to support his pastor. He served on the Trustee
Board. He was elevated when the Lord called him to preach the Gospel.
He later became an Ordained Elder and served in many capacities in the
COGP organization, including Treasurer and District Elder.
Bishop Williams was dedicated to his pastor’s ministry for over 16 years
before becoming the Assistant Pastor in August 1999. He remained
Assistant Pastor for over eight (8) years, honoring his beloved pastor.
After the Lord called Bishop Zackariah Moore home, he became Pastor
on January 27, 2008. He was elevated to the office of Bishop on August
16, 2015.
Before his beloved pastor went home to be with the Lord, the church
branched out and became Church of God Pentecostal MLK, Inc. and was
later renamed Greater Deliverance Church of God, Inc.
Bishop Tommy Williams graduated from C. F. Vigor High School. He
attended Bishop State Community College and the University of South
Alabama. He received a degree in Chemical Technology.
Bishop Williams was a firm believer in moving forward in the Gospel.
We often called him the “People’s Pastor”. He visited the hospitals,
nursing homes, the prisons, Wings of Life and other rehabilitation
centers offering prayers, encouragement and spreading the Gospel. He
loved people, especially the household of faith. He encouraged
everyone to support their pastor and their local church.
Bishop Williams was born in Prichard, Alabama. He was preceded in
death by his mother, Mother Helen Williams; his grandson, Eric “EJ”
Williams, Jr; and his brothers, Nelson White, Jr, Elder George White,
and Alphonse Williams.
He leaves to cherish his memories the love of his life, a loving and
devoted wife of 35 years, Teacher Victoria Williams who he married on
December 19, 1987; two sons, Travis (Bridgette) Williams and Eric
(Malencia) Williams, both of Mobile, AL; one daughter, Tiffany
Williams of Huntsville, AL; three granddaughters, Torreigh Helen
Williams, Grace Noel Elias and Orianna Smith; one brother, Rocelious
(Barbara) Williams, of Las Vegas, NV; four sisters, Mother Shirley
Jackson of Semmes, AL, Diane (Attorney Johnbull) Nwosu of Atlanta,
GA, Mother Brenda Sigler of Birmingham, AL and Yvonne Loretta
Williams of Mobile, AL; Father and Mother in law, Minister James
(Mother Betty) Armstrong, Sr of Moss Point, MS, three brothers in law,
James (Tywana) Armstrong, Jr of Ocean Springs, MS, Kelvin (Evelyn)
Armstrong, Sr of Rockwall, TX and Michael (Karen) Armstrong, Sr of
Jacksonville, FL; 4 sisters in law, Mother Annie White of Mobile, AL,
Rebecca Latimore, Jennifer (Alexander) Lett and Rachel Armstrong, all
of Moss Point, MS; Spiritual Mother, Mother Clinice Hughes; Godsons,
Zae’Korrous Page and DayShaun Traylor; a host of devoted nieces and
nephews; cousins, other relatives and friends. And, the Greater
Deliverance Church of God, Inc. church family.