Joe H. Williams

On Monday, February 6, 2023, at 8:33 a.m., the Heavenly Father dispatched His angel to escort Joe H. Williams from earth to heaven. Joe was born October 7, 1937 in Tuskegee, Alabama, the son of Homer and Annie Crowell Williams. He came to Warren in 1957, located in what was called the Liberty Steel area. He soon realized that many of the residents lacking city improvements were from his home state of Alabama. This fact made him feel closer to the people and he began to think of ways to improve their standard of living. He became active with the West Warren Improvement Association and was elected president of the organization in 1970. Approximately three years later, he spearheaded the efforts of getting the city to annex 540 acres of Warren township. Joe lobbied long and hard to get streetlights, sanitary sewers, gas, and water lines installed, and to change the name of the main road from Liberty Road to Martin Luther King Blvd. Along with annexation came new problems for many of the residents. Joe heard that city planners were going to demolish all homes in the Liberty Steel area that didn't meet the city's electric code. He became disheartened and felt he had let the residents down. He struggled internally to come up with a solution that would prevent residents from losing their homes. This dilemma resulted in him going to school to get an electrician's license. He was determined to do all the electric work himself, free of charge because the older residents were on a fixed income. That was the beginning of Joe's personal crusade to clean up, fix up and modernize some neighborhoods on the city's west side. In 1978, Joe was the first African American elected to serve as 7th Ward councilman. He served in that compacity for 12.9 years. He was the first African American City Council President where he served for 10 years. Joe retired in 2008 from General Motors Local 1112, as an electrician for 32 of his 40 years. In recognition for his community service, he was selected as one of the top 10 recipients to receive the General Motors Award for Excellence out of 23,450 employees. He also received special recognition for outstanding community contributions from Governor Richard Celeste; State Auditor, Thomas E. Ferguson; Congressman James Traficant; Mayor Dan Sferra; Mayor George McKelvey; Council Member Jerry Crispino of New York; Assemblyman, Larry Seawood of New York; Sheriff, Richard Jakmas; A.Phillip Randolph Institute, Warren Trumbull Urban League, and the NAACP. He served on the National Steering Committee for the Clinton/Gore 1996 campaign. In 1991, he was inducted into Warren's Afro American Hall of Fame. He was also a member of King Solomon Lodge No.87. He received recognition as Honorary Mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama with a day named in his honor by Mayor Johnny Ford. He was also presented with keys to the city. Joe was a member of Coleman Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of his uncle, Pastor Louis Coleman. He later attended Barnes Temple Church of God in Christ under Pastor David Henderson. As the owner of Williams Electric Company, he holds the distinction of being the first black licensed electrician in the city of Warren. He received his master electrician license in 1973. He was also licensed by the State of Ohio. He was proceeded in death by his parents, two brothers, Otis Crowell, and Homer Williams Jr., and one sister, Odessa Suber. Joe's beautiful life will be celebrated by his wife, Marilyn Hainesworth Williams, daughter, Melani Hainesworth; son, Mario Dwayne Hainesworth (Latrice); sisters, Mary Blount, and Jessie Collins, both from New York. Grandchildren: Ashley Dorsey (De'Angelo), Mignon Smith, MarShaun Hainesworth, Michael Frost MarTae Hainesworth, Mario DeLyn Hainesworth, and four Great grandchildren. Remembering Joe's love of family are a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 10 am to 12 pm, Monday, February 13, 2023, at North Mar Church, 3855 E Market St., Warren. Ohio 44484. A Funeral service will take place at 12 pm at the church following visitation. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joe H. Williams, please visit our floral store.