Pastor Jesse Williams Jr.

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Edison Tech High School

Jesse Williams Obituary

Williams, Pastor Jesse Jr.
Orlando, FL: Passed away December 13, 2008, after a brief illness in Orlando, FL. He recently relocated from Tulsa, OK, where he served under Bishop C. D. Pearson. He was a graduate of Edison Tech High School and minister at the Greater Adams Street Church of God by Faith, Rochester, pastored by Dr. David C. Rourk. Services will be at the Sanctuary of Praise COGBF in Orlando, FL, on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 22, at 12 noon.

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Published by Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on Dec. 20, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Jesse Williams

5 Entries

Almond Adams

January 1, 2009

Dear Jesse:

I am Almond Adams (birth name John); currently living in New York. However, I'm a native Rochesterian. You and I first met back in 1986 when you were the Choir Director for THE CHAPTER which was the condensed version of The Edwin Hawkins Music & Arts Seminar Choir; Rochester, NY Chapter. The name was soon changed to The Rochester Music & Arts Seminar Choir. It's during these years we met and began to know each other discovering we had much in common. We both attended the same high school. You and your Sister, Andrea, graduating 3 years before me, and your brother Johnny, graduating the year after both of you, 2 years before me. Your transition is unexpected news. How surprised and saddened I am. I broke a brief cry yesterday, 12/31/2008, while listening to your song “My Time Has Come”. I remained in contact with your cousin Chad Franklin because he lives in New York also. I’m surprised because I’ve ask Chad how are you doing? many times we’ve seen each other here in NY and he always replied “better, he’s beginning to care more for himself than about others now”. I’ve also forwarded Chad e-mails to forward to you regarding Edison’s Centennial Anniversary throughout 2008 and not once was I informed that you were ill. Your transition is a surprise because during the latter part of 2008 I accidentally found your myspace page searching for HALLELUJAH IS THE HIGHEST PRAISE sung by Jerome Ferrell and The Buffalo Lighthouse Interdenominational Choir featuring Rev. Timothy Wright. On that same album, you along with a female artist, sung the lead to “Never Alone”. Since finding your myspace page I would visit it often and listen to another favorite song of mine sung by you and your siblings, “Redeemed”. Then, for approximately 3, maybe 4, no more than 5 days, I didn’t visit your myspace page and on Saturday 12/20/2008 I received a text message from my sister Marilyn who still lives in Rochester stating you had passed. I thought to myself HUH? I was just listening to his music on his myspace page and noticed he had recently logged onto it and now all of sudden he’s dead? What a sad surprise for me. Mentally moving forward past the grief and at the same time rewinding the hands time………my memories of you are cherished. One summer evening after choir rehearsal (Lily of The Valley) I was letting you know how difficult it was to reach a never-ending high-heaven tenor note on our signature warm up song “He Is So Marvelous!” Your reply was “O C’MON NOW JOHN YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTA THAN THAT!” I replied “it’s hard!” and you answered “I KNOW BUT WE WANNA BE BETTA!” then you proceeded to instruct me on how to take in the air from the diaphragm and use the diaphragm as an instrument to sing from. I also remember the watch night services The Rochester Music & Arts Seminar Choir sang at and the going out to TJ’s or some other restaurant to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. I remember the Edwin Hawkins Music Workshops that Sister Mae Dupree, You and Paul Boutee used to coordinate and produce during which Edwin would fly from Oakland to Rochester to teach. I could go on but I’ve already typed a report. Anyway……you are a gifted and talented being. Your presence on Earth was certainly influential. You were one of Rochester’s Gospel Artist’s and in my personal opinion you were a recording star. It’s very interesting that before (within 2 weeks) I received the text message from my sister Marilyn, I dreamed about you at least twice. During the first dream we were talking and you started crying. I perceived that you were crying for me because of what’s happened to me in my life. During the second dream you sat across the room from me on a couch and were just sitting silently. I didn’t know how to interpret that dream. Now all of a sudden your gone and you’ll be missed!

Almond (John) Adams

January 1, 2009

Rita Dowdell-Rivera

December 26, 2008

To the Family:
Jesse was "genuinely" special to many people. I remember when I first came to COGBF and he worked at Xerox downtown and I worked in the mall. He surprised me one day by coming to my job. He gave me a letter he had writted for me with such profound words of encouragement......I still remember it "word for word" and it rings in my heart.
Thank you Jesse for being the true man of God that you were.....

Josephus Daniels

December 22, 2008

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.

Melissa Reed

December 20, 2008

Jesse' Williams was a wonderful man of God. He touched so many lives while he was here on earth; and by doing so his legacy will live forever. I am a better person for knowing him.

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