Essie Mae Williams

Center right into the arms of her loving Savior Jesus Christ.

Essie Mae Williams was born on June 4, 1946, in Wilson, North Carolina to the late Theodore

and Rachel Ellis Williams, where she spent the early part of her childhood on a farm. She

a􀆩ended Greene County Public School system in North Carolina. She was a member of Wave

of Glory in Goldsboro, NC. She worked at Su􀆩on Rest Home as a housekeeper and Carson

Smith on the tobacco farm in North Carolina. A􀅌er her four daughters were grown and

married, she decided to move to Washington, DC to further her career in 1984. She held

several jobs which included working at the Na􀆟onal Rehabilita􀆟on Hospital in the cafeteria,

Gallaudet University as a housekeeper, and moving her way up to Supervisor at Second New

St. Paul Bap􀆟st Church Day Care Center as a part-􀆟me cook. She was later called back in two

weeks to help with the babies in the daycare center. A challenge in her life was going back to

school where she earned her CDA license. She re􀆟red from Hyde Leadership Public Charter

School in March 2011 as a cook. During this 􀆟me, she joined Bethesda New Life Gospel under

the leadership of the late Bishop Iola B. Cunningham and was a member of the Nurse’s and

Kitchen ministries which she loved.

Essie was known for her style of cooking and catering, which she loved to do. Essie loved her

family and loved to cook Sunday’s dinner which would include pig feet’s, collard greens, hush

puppies, and potato salad. She was famous for her seafood salad. She didn’t smile a lot but

when she knew that you enjoyed what she cooked, it brought so much joy to your heart

which would put a smile on her face. O􀅌en her sons-in-law would complain about her

daughters not cooking for them and she would cook for them and just laugh.

Essie was preceded in death by her daughter Barbara Le􀅌dwrige, two brothers Theodore

Williams Jr., and Johnny Lee Williams, two sons-in-law Larry Le􀅌dwrige and Hubert Bryant Jr.,

and 2 great grandson Joshua Dewi􀆩 and Damoni Williams. She leaves to cherishes her

memories, one sister Delores Alniqab of Goldsboro, NC., her daughters Judy Picke􀆩 (William)

of Goldsboro, NC, Linda Champ (Mike) of Goldsboro, NC and Brenda Bryant of Washington,

DC., 15 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, 1 nephew, 1 niece, 1

great nephew, and a host of family and friends.