Christine "Chris" Williams-Menyweather

Christine was born on October 13, 1951, in Monroe, Louisiana to the late James (Jim) Gardner, Jr., of Delhi, Louisiana and Dollie Mae Williams-Jenkins of Monroe, Louisiana. She was the second of seven children, and spent her young years moving speedily to keep up with her oldest brother. Christine attended Carver Elementary School for first through fourth grade, where she was an honors student. Her parents moved to the Renwick addition, and at the time, the school board changed the school zones in the district and Chris attended Clark Elementary School for the fifth and sixth grade, where she participated in her first drama play.
Christine spent her seventh grade at Booker T. Washington Junior High School and eighth Grade was at Carroll Junior High School during the integration period. Her teenage years (grades nine through twelve) were spent at Carroll High School under the tutelage of the late Mr. Henry Carroll. Chris went on to attend Delta-Ouachita Vocational School, studying Bookkeeping and Secretary Training. This was a two-year course, but Chris graduated in a year and a half in 1971 with honors.
Chris married Mr. Sammy Lee Menyweather and they were married for 17 years until their divorce. Her first job was as a hostess/salad girl at Bonanza Steakhouse here in Monroe. She made a lot of tips in addition to her salary, and she was able to buy a bicycle for her brothers and a washer/dryer for her mother. She loved her sisters and brothers like they were her own children and she did anything for them as well as her daughters.
In 1972, she was hired as the first black private secretary at the Chemical Laboratory of Cities Service Company (formerly known as Columbian Chemicals). She worked there five years and then in 1976, she was employed as the secretary at KNOE AM Radio. In 1977, Chris was hired as a Service representative and then assistant to the supervisor until she retired on November 19, 1999.
Christine accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at an early age by her grandmother, the late Reverend Mary Gransberry, Pastor of Grand Temple Pentecostal Church in Monroe, Louisiana. She served faithfully in the church, first at Rose of Sharon Baptist Church under the late Reverend J. B. Brown for years, then she moved her church membership to Empire Church of Deliverance in 1973, where she served again faithfully for 40 years as Church Secretary, Church Nurse, and Head of the Usher Board under the leadership of the late Bishop Jim D. Moore and faithful best friend, Overseer Peggy A. Moore.
She then attended Empire Church of Deliverance (name changed to New Covenant Christian Center Church) under the leadership of Reverend Orlando Freemont and again she served faithfully as Church Secretary and Head Usher. She moved her membership to Greater Realness Cathedral in 2019, under the stewardship of her Pastor, Apostle Dr. Don G. Banks, Sr., until her health began to fail. God took her hand and called her home on August 14, 2024, and said, "Well-done thou good and faithful servant."
Christine was a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her father, James (Jim) Gardner; newborn son, Shawn Dewayne Menyweather; younger brother, Warner (Dougie) Williams; newborn granddaughter, Makayla Christine Menyweather; and niece, Katrina White.
She is survived by her mother, Dollie Jenkins of Monroe, LA; two daughters, Vanerra "Van" Reddic (Kevin) and April Menyweather, both of Monroe, LA; three brothers, James "Buddy" Williams, Kenneth Williams (Jacqueline), and Anthony Jenkins (Doniele), all of Monroe, LA; three sisters, Edith Loyd, Iylon Collins (Carl), both of Monroe, LA, and Janice Moore of Houston, TX; six grandchildren, Kevin Reddic, Jr. (Kimberly), Jasmia Jones, Nicole Menyweather, Heather Carter, Khrystyan (Kierra) Reddic, and Bryttni Carter; four great-grandchildren, Ryland Carter, Kyren Reddic, Kingston Wilkins, and Kaysia Reddic; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family, and friends.
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