Mildred Louise Harris Williams

Mildred Louise Williams born August 23, 1921, in Patterson, Louisiana, to Joseph Blessed Harris & Beaulah Louise Kimbrough. Mildred was the second child of six siblings. She and her younger brother Willard were thought of as twin because of their closeness. They would play match maker for each other.

Mildred attended Pipkin Elementary School then after the death of her father; she graduated from Charleston Poly High School in Beaumont, Texas at the age 16 yrs old. As a graduation gift she got two gold teeth. Then later married Willie Orabrough known as “Papa Cuta Pheasant Red”, which ended in divorce.

At the age of 20, Mildred moved to Pasco, Washington to work at the shipyard at the urging of her brother Willard Harris. She worked in the cafeteria for five years serving all those that were involved in Pearl Harbor at the shipyard. In 1954 Mildred moved to Portland, Oregon where Jerl Dale Harris and Swarner (Swana) Marie Harris were born. Mildred worked a number of odd jobs to support her family as many as three jobs at one time. She worked as a janitor for Multnomah County until retirement in 1986. She would tell her children, “You better put whip to your horses, cause time is winding up.” She was a very hard working woman and she also involved her children in her odd jobs teaching them work ethics.

At the age of 12, Mildred gave her life to Christ under the leadership of Rev. Rochelle of the Good Hope Church in Patterson, LA. On her spiritual journey she met the Rev. Manuel L. Williams while attending a service with her brother Willard Harris at Rev. & Mrs. Drake church of Portland, OR. Who are now deceased. She then married the now late Rev. Manuel L. Williams of Mt. Horeb Church in Indianapolis, IN. To this union two children were born Manuel Lee Williams Jr. and Cheryl Lynn Williams. Mother Mildred Williams served faithfully at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church under the leaderships of the late Rev. M.C. Cheeks, the late Rev. Leonard L. Ransom and the late Rev. Emanuel Warren. Mother served as a Sunday School Superintendent for 35 yrs, a prayer warrior, sung in the choir (couldn’t hold a note), taught bible study she served the Lord with all her heart. Mother Williams joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in 2001 under the leadership of the late Rev. Felton Howard, until she took sick and wasn’t able to attend. Mother Williams also went to the Multnomah School of the Bible to further her education in the bible. Mother loved the Lord and prayed always, for whoever came into her home. All the kids knew that it was a requirement that if you go to Mother Williams house first before you think you were going to party, you would either have to attend prayer at the church, if it was on a Wednesday night or on the weekend she would hold a longgggggggggg prayer in the living room or porch before she would let you leave. She loved her children but when they decided to step out the will of God she never stopped praying for them.

Mother Williams loved her children so much and was involved their lives she even mothered Shawn, Sharletta and Yvonne. When Mother Williams health started to decline after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure she was given 30 days to live. Mother went into care at granddaughter Yvonne and Donnie’s home and was cared for by daughters and hospice during her final days. She lived four months passed the doctor’s diagnosed. On May 25th at 11:30am after tarrying unto the Lord God sent his angels down to bring Mother Williams home. That was a glorious day with her daughters and granddaughter by her bedside.

Mother, momma and granny will be greatly missed, she was wise enough not to leave until she knew her daughters & granddaughters were the women she raised them up to be. Mother always had a plan.

Those who preceded Mother in death were Beaulah L. Harris-Mother, Joseph B. Harris-Father, two sons Manuel L. Williams Jr. and Jerl Dale Harris. Brothers: Roy J. Harris Sr., Willard P. Harris, Janie B. Harris and Joseph A. Harris Jr.

Mother leaves to mourn daughters Swarner (Swana) M. Harris-Wilson (Charlie) and Cheryl L. Williams-Fletcher. Grandchildren: Shawn Leon (Harris)Lacy, Yolanda Harris, Sharletta Marie Hurst, Yvonne Sheree (Norman)Williams and Javares Lee Harris. Eight great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews and friends. One sister in law Aunt Willie Lee Harris.

We would like to thank Hospice and everyone who prayed for our family during our mother and grandmother’s transition from earth to GLORY.