Sarah Williams

August 8, 1937-December 31, 2022

Sarah Ann Williams was born on August 8, 1937, to the proud parents Andrew and Norsis Jones in Tuncia, Mississippi. Both of her parents being of Native American decent of the Black foot Siksika nations. She was the 3rd child of 4, 2 brothers Ned and Lee who proceeded her in death and 1 Sister “Marie” Ora Lee.

As a child they traveled to Arkansas and settled where she was married and began a family. Giving birth to her 3 daughters.

Sarah relocated to Merced, California in 1962 and soon relocated to Stockton where she met her husband of 45 years James C. Williams.

She studied and became a nurse for over 25 years. Sarah blessed many with her arts and crafts. She was a serial entrepreneur. She owned a shop called “Sarah’s Crafts” that was the 1st arts and craft shop in the Eastland Plaza on Wilson Way. Where we now know to be Rainbow Shops.

Many often found her having garage sales and yard sale every spring season or for a winter boutique. Where she would from time to time ask her spiritual granddaughter to go get her hot wings. “Saying go get the 20 piece and I just want few you take the rest!”

Sarah was ordained as an evangelist in the Church of God in Christ. She spoke, taught, prayed and was an example to many men and woman. Ministry was an important part of her life. She became a church mother later in life and continued to minister as God ordered. Sarah lived a “Yes Lord” life with a testimony for all of us to see and hear. So much so that the day her husband passed she called her oldest granddaughter and requested that she make this promise. “Ask God help me to be satisfied where you have me!” Meaning what ever the situation looks like Go to God first and trust Him to direct your path. Which is something we saw her do time after time.

If you knew her well, she would tell you she had a daily prayer list. Sarah kept a book near her chair, and she wrote many of our names and prayed over the list daily. She was a prayer warrior!

With every trial and healing she would joyfully express to her middle daughter, “God is SOMEBODY!”

Sarah has faced many trials and tribulations, but she NOW has her eternal healing.

As the mantel she carried is passed to her daughter and granddaughters, Sarah proceeded in death by her loving husband James C Williams. Her youngest daughter Jackie Johnson. And oldest daughter Kattie A. Hodge.

She leaves to cherish her memory, Her sister Marie Jones (Ora Lee) of Detroit MI., Her middle daughter Diane Wright of Stockton, Ca. and step-daughter Kathryn Martin of Imperial Beach, Ca. Granddaughters Minister LaCreisha M. Brown of Stockton Ca., Takeisha Hodge of San Francisco, Ca., Latiea Wright of College Park, GA, Tiffany Hodge of Oakland, Ca., and step-granddaughter Lenee Lewis (Leon), of Stockton, Ca. Her great-grandchildren Elijah B Brown of Stockton Ca., (Ana), Sany-ah Massey of Alameda, Ca., Adail J. Brown-Thrower of Stockton, Ca., and Xameer Hodge of Oakland, Ca. Her great-great-grandson Ismael James Gonzalez-Brown “Izzy”. As well as a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and church family.

Sarah being the matriarch of the family would have been so happy to present to her mother the news that she was blessed to see 5 Native American Siksika generations. As her mother before her was blessed to see 4. Her family is proud to carry on the legacy of their tribe!

Final Resting Place: Lodi Memorial Park Cemetery