Reverend Dr. Morris Williams

Reverend Dr. Morris Williams heard the master call on Thursday, September 28 2023, as he entered the Heavenly Gates.

Visitation: 6 – 8PM Friday, October 6, 2023  Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral Service: 1pm Saturday, October 7, 2023 at New Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2404 FM 2776 Bryan, TX.
Interment: Rest Ever Memorial Park, Bryan, TX.

Reverend Dr. Morris Williams was born in Robinson County on July 28, 1933. As the male of a fraternal twin set, he was the seventh child of Willis and Susie Spears Williams. Dr. Williams’ father died when he was very young, leaving him, his mother, and siblings to forage the Williams legacy in their own way.

Reverend Dr. Morris Williams embarked on his treasured journey of family and fatherhood early in life, after completing traditional grade school and graduating from EA Kemp High School of Bryan, TX, in 1951. He met his first wife, Ada Mae Tates of Bryan, TX. They married in 1954 and created a family unit with Walter Tates. Through this blissful union, they also brought seven other children into this world: Ezra Williams, Susie Williams, Robert Williams, Ada Williams, Evander Williams, Victoria Williams, and Gloria Williams.

After 18 beautiful years of marriage, the Lord called Ada Mae Tates Williams home. Reverend Dr. Morris Williams raised his eight children alone for two years before meeting Louise Mitchell Rittenhouse. On October 31, 1976, Louise Mitchell Rittenhouse, and Reverend Dr. Morris Williams united in marriage. Through this union, Morris Wiliams welcomed four more children to love who lovingly called him “Papa”: Artis Wilkins, Joyce Anderson, Robbie Hawkins, and Wesley Wilkins.

In 1998, Rev. Dr. Morris Williams lost his second loving wife of 29 years, also known as “his angel sent from God,” never to marry again.

During his life, Reverend Dr. Morris Williams worked as a general contractor building homes and places of worship. He ran his general contracting business for 32 years. He was a pastor of four congregations. He never hesitated to assist someone in need or spread the gospel.  He loved his family and enjoyed family holiday celebrations. He always said, “We may not all be together at the next gathering.”

Reverend Dr. Morris Williams is preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Susie Spears Williams, and all his siblings: Evander Williams, Willis Williams Jr., Harry Williams, Rebecca Williams, and his twin sister Doris Williams. He is also preceded by four sons: Walter Tates, Ezra Williams, Evander Williams, and Wesley Wilkins, and his two loving wives, Ada Mae Tates Williams and Louise Mitchell Rittenhouse Wiliams.

He has a host of loved ones left to cherish his memory and uphold his legacy including his son, Robert Williams of Bryan, TX; seven daughters, Susie (Dale) Blackmon of Lubbock, TX, Ada Williams of Montgomery, Alabama, Victoria Brown of Bryan,TX, Gloria (Pastor M.L. Walker) of Waco, TX, Artis Wilkins, Joyce Anderson, and Robbie Hawkins of Austin, TX; 26 grandchildren; 54 great grandchildren; and 12 great great grandchildren.

Development of the ministry of Reverend Dr. Morris Williams…

The Christian journey of Morris Williams began at the age of 15 when he was baptized at Peaceful Rest Baptist Church. Reverend Dr. Morris Williams was moved to be baptized a second time by Rev. W.W. Ford at age 18, also at Peaceful Rest Church. After his union in marriage to Ada Mae Tates, they settled their membership at Jerusalem Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. G. F. Alexander. During this time, Dr. Williams organized a male singing group called the Gospel Harmonizers.

After ten years of spreading the gospel through song, Dr. Williams accepted a call from the Lord to preach the gospel. In 1962, Reverend Dr. Williams began his Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church pastorate in Calvert, TX. After two years, the Lord led Dr. Williams to become the pastor of New Chapel Baptist Church, Bryan, TX. During his ten-year pastorate, Dr. Williams was instructed to build a new building for this congregation under the guidance of the Lord.

While working, in addition to his pastorate, Dr. Williams enrolled in Union Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Houston, TX. His matriculation in theology earned him a bachelor’s degree in 1972, a Master’s degree in 1974, and a Doctorate of Divinity in 1975. While gaining theological knowledge, the Lord called Dr. Williams to leave his pastorate at New Chapel and started preaching the gospel to those who would hear him in the highways and byways of life, “street preaching.”

Doing the Lord’s work in the “streets”, created a following that would become Truevine Baptist Church in 1973. In 1974, there was a call to lead another congregation in addition to Truevine Baptist church. He became the pastor of New Bethlehem Baptist Church. Reverend Dr. Morris Williams led two congregations for 13 years. He built a new church building for New Bethlehem and Truevine during this pastorate.

Eventually, in 1992, Reverend Dr. Morris Willams became the full-time pastor of Truevine Baptist Church. He retired from preaching but never from being a servant of the Lord in 2016, with Truevine Baptist Church being his final congregation to lead. Reverend Dr. Morris Williams spent 53 years of his life pastoring, with 43 years of service given to Truevine Baptist Church. During this time in the ministry, he developed close friendships with Pastor A. L. Goins, Pastor M. H. Harris, and Pastor U .L. Green, all of whom have preceded him in death.

During his pastorate, he developed two sons in the ministry, Rev. Herman Jones of Houston, TX, and Pastor F. Calvin Lewis of Bryan, TX, and was adopted by several others as a wise mentor in the Lord.

Following his retirement, Reverend Dr. Williams joined Living Witness Missionary Baptist Church under the guidance of Pastor M.L. Walker. He continued his life studying the Word of God and sharing his knowledge and belief with anyone who would be willing to hear.