Oprie Williams

Mother Oprie Williams was born April 15, 1938 the 12th child of 13 born to George and Zealer (Edwards) Tillman.

Mother Williams loved going to Church, Fishing, reading her Bible, gardening, was a great homemaker, and loved caring and her family and Elders as well. She never turned her back against anyone. She used to say with a smile “Being nice will get you through the world. Speaking is honorable to anyone. Her main saying was Give me my flowers while I’m alive so I can hug and kiss you and say Thank You.

She gained her education from Mississippi School System while working in the Fields picking cotton, cleaning houses, while caring for other children but she never stopped serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During her young adult life through God she became the wife of Eddie Williams who took over as King to take care of his Queen. On March 9 1957 in Clarksdale, MS they were migrated to Chicago, IL. They soon after relocated to Michigan City, IN where it became home for them, their children Roy and Yolanda. Years later Oprie and Eddie not only raised their children but their grandchildren also. Mother Williams served the Lord at AOH C.O.G.I.C. in Michigan City under the late S.C. Kendricks where she served as the Vice President of the usher board. During the school year of 1978-1979 Mother Williams was a Bus Driver for Head Start here in Michigan City under Earnestine Bernard. She then began working as a Housekeeper until her health began to fail her. After the Church disbanded she attended All Nations Holiness in Christ currently named as New Covenant Outreach Ministries under the late Pastor Robert Lee Hurt Sr. and now under the leadership of Pastor Duane Hurt. She served faithfully until her health declined.

Mother Williams went home to be with her Heavenly Father on July 11, 2021 at Aperion Care Arbors of Michigan City. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Eddie Williams, her son Roy M. Davis,10 brothers Vernon Sr., Levi, George Sr., Wilton, Ernest Sr., Charles Sr., James Pete, Dennis, Ray Campbell and Lorenzo,  2 sisters, Willie Leflore and Christine Roberts.

Mother leaves to cherish her unforgettable memories, her daughter, Yolanda (Tony) Byrd of Michigan City, IN; 4 grandchildren, Shaniqua “Shay” Williams and James L. Watts both of Michigan City, IN; Shasta Young of Miller, IN; Tominka Vaughn of Minneapolis, MN; 5 grandchildren, Dante (Chellme) Sellers of Michigan City, IN; Shambriel (Leonard Guyton) Byrd, of Michigan City, IN; Tonisha Byrd of Indianapolis, IN;  Mario (Shavonte) Harrell of Michigan City, IN; Cortez (Precious) Lemons of Riverdale, GA; and Tony Byrd Jr. of Marion, OH;  bonus great grand-children, 5 sister in laws, Elizabeth Earnestine and Laura Mae Tillman both of Michigan City, IN; Mable Williams of Indianola, MS; Katherine Tillman of Colorado Springs, CO; and Diane Williams of Chicago, IL;  1 brother in law Willie Williams of Chicago, IL: three god-daughters, Cassandra Benning, Naomi Veal and Dawn Hillard along with a host of other relatives and friends.

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