Member Resources

Reverend J. Elbert Williams, a native of Sumter, S. C., was born on June 26, 1955.  He is the son of the late Reverend Frank E. Williams, Sr. and Mrs. Magnolia R. Williams.  He had one brother, the late Reverend Frank E. Williams, Jr.;  two sisters, Elder G. Donnell Williams-Miller of Suitland, Maryland and Ms. Sandra Williams of Sumter, S. C.  He also has one son, Torey, and four daughters, Zaleika, Natiya, Tiffany and Tasha.

  Reverend Williams is a 1973 graduate of Sumter High School, Sumter, S. C., attended Strayer Business College in Washington, D. C. and honorably served nine (9) years in the United States Marine Corps.  He is a 1989 graduate of Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a licensed funeral Director and Embalmer with State and National Board Certification.  He is CEO of Williams Funeral Home, Inc. His family’s business operating in Sumter since 1947. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. Elbert is a 2004 graduate of Morris College, Sumter, S. C. with a B. A. in Pastoral Ministry. He has completed one year course of study at Duke University and one year of study at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina.  He is a graduate of Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, North Carolina in May 2012 with a Master of Divinity. Elbert is enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry Program at Erskine Theological seminary.  He has completed 36 hours of study toward the Doctorate degree and is a candidate. He received an Honorary Doctoral degree from Morris College in 2021.  He came to Christ and was rooted in Christian faith as a young boy in the Rafting Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Rembert, S. C. He  served faithfully for fourteen (14) years as Deacon of the Sumter and Columbia wards.

   Reverend Williams’ call to the ministry has unfolded a great opportunity.  That is revisit a part of his families religious heritage,  “The United Methodist Church”.  His grandfather, Reverend John W. Williams, Sr. pastured there for over 50 years.

     At the present Reverend Williams proudly proclaims:  membership in the South Carolina

Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.  He was commissioned Elder in full connection at the 2016 Annual Conference.  He is a member of  Shepard United Methodist Church, Sumter, S. C.  He served two years as Associate Pastor in the Oswego Circuit United Methodist Church, serving Clark, Mount Moriah, and St. Mark.  In 2004 he was appointed to the   Mt. Beulah and New Hope United Methodist Churches, McBee, S. C. where he served for 7 years.   He served one year at the Chesterfield Parish, Mt. Tabor and Wesley Chapel,  July 2011 – June 2012.  He served the Marion Parish of Bethel, Pleasant Grove and Springville United Methodist Churches, Marion, S.  C. for nine years.  He is currently serving the Lamar / Ebenezer Charge, John Wesley, Lamar, Sandy Grove, Lamar and Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Bishopville, S. C.

    As a public servant and community involved person he is a Notary Public for the State of South Carolina.  A life member of the Sumter Branch NAACP. In 2018 he received the NAACP Marvin Scarborough Community Service Award. He has served on the Tuomey Regional Medical Center’s Ethics Committee, Sumter, S. C.  He is a member of the Sumter Sertoma Club. He hold membership in the Good Fellows Businesmen’s Club of Sumter, S. C .He also received the Presidential Citation from Morris College in May 2018 for outstanding support. He is a life member of the Morris College Alumni Association. He is also vice president of the Morris College Alumni Association, Sumter Chapter. In 2018 he was appointed to the African University Development Committee located in Zimbabwe. He is also a Prince Hall Mason, Royal Arch Mason, a  Past Master of the Red Hill Lodge # 144 in Alcolu,   S. C., as well as a member of the C. C. Johnson Consistory #136 of the 32nd Degree Mason and Ciaro Temple #125 Shriners of Columbia, S. C.  Reverend Williams is past Worthy Patron of Catchall Chapter #315 Order of The Eastern Stars, Prince Hall affiliation.  He received the Honorary and Final 33rd Degree in Prince Hall Masonry in 2007.  He was recently appointed Associate Grand Chaplin for the State of South Carolina.  He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. In 2021, he was selected as Phi Beta Sigma Business Man of the year for the State of South Carolina. He works diligently with the YWCA Upper Midlands, Eliminatory Racism and Empowering Women.

He is owner and developer of Tiffany Gardens,  a 20 acre Home Sub-Division in North Sumter, South Carolina.

 He has done extensive Foreign travel doing religious studies. He has traveled to Rome, four times to South Africa, Israel, Jerusalem, Athens Greece, twice following the footsteps of Paul and has sailed the Sea of Galilee.  Also baptized in the Jordan River.

 There are various other affiliations which have not been mentioned today, but what he would have you know is that he is looking forward to a life time of service to God almighty who has called him to preach, teach, and Minister the Gospel.

Favorite Quote – “A man who uses force is afraid of reasoning.”