This is the story of a man who loved the Lord and spent the better part of his life serving Him.

Sam Williams was one of 11 children born to the Matthew and Ella Mae Milton Williams on March 1, 1921 in Monticello, Florida. He received his early education in the Jefferson County School System and after he left school, he spent most of his life working as a citrus worker, truck driver, and as a maintenance worker at St. Edwards School in Vero Beach.

In 1959, he and his then wife, Frances – who preceded him in death in 1991 – moved to Vero Beach and made the city their home.  Shortly afterwards, the couple met Ethel M. Brown, pastor of The Church of God Tabernacle (True Holiness) in Vero Beach,  who led them to the Lord.  Under her leadership and that of Bishop Walter H. Richardson, Overseer of the church, Sam grew in the Lord and became one of the church's first ordained Deacons.

Deacon Sam, as he was affectionately called, was a man of faith and believed in the power of prayer. He looked to God to guide him and direct his every move and to provide him with a clear understanding of all situations.

In 1994, the Lord directed him to ask the former Joyce Corley to be his wife. Together, they worked tirelessly for the Lord in any way they could.

"He was a wonderful husband," said Missionary Joyce Williams, his wife of 22 years.  "He loved me, his children, grandchildren and his friends, and he loved the church and his Pastor and his Bishop."

Deacon Sam was known to be on time for church.  His aim was to live to please God and his spiritual journey was an example to all who knew him. He recognized that God was first and foremost in his life and he served Him and The Church of God with a joyful spirit.

Deacon Sam had a beautiful smile and loved to fellowship with his church family as well as his natural family. He had a passion for fishing and cooking, which he loved to talk about. His specialty dishes were his homemade soup and smoked chicken (which everyone knew him for).  He always had something he made at his annual "Fish Fry Birthday Celebration".

Deacon Sam attended church faithfully, even during some of the last days of his illness. And no matter how sick he was, he always said, "I am blessed" to anyone who asked how he was feeling.

On the afternoon of January 10th, God dispatched His angels to the Hospice House in Vero Beach to summon His son to his heavenly home.

Deacon Sam was preceded in death by brothers Charlie Williams, Forest "Mike" Williams, and Matthew Williams, Jr., sisters Nancy Williams, Abbie McPhee, Estella Farrington and Elizabeth Humphrey, and granddaughter Sabrina Meadows.

He leaves to cherish is precious memory, wife Joyce; daughters Josephine Bradley of Jacksonville, NC, the Rev. Maisy (Phillip) Allen of Jersey City, NJ, and Charlotte (Mack) Brown of Sebastian, FL, sister Ella Mae Hills of Vero Beach; brothers James Williams and Robert Williams of Vero Beach; sisters-in- law Lenora Williams of Vero Beach and Hester Williams of Rivera Beach, FL; grandchildren Claude (Angela) Brooms of Suwanee, GA, Frances Skinner of Norfolk, Virginia, John (Trina) Bradley, Jr. of Raleigh, NC, Michael (Khabirah) Allen of Union, NJ,  Jason Allen of Patterson, NJ, Errol (Nisa) Allen of Jersey City, NJ, Michael and Norkeya Brown of Sebastian, FL, and Johntavis Brown of Orlando, FL with whom he had a special bond, great-grandchildren Treza and Marcus Brooms, Lavern and Weaverly Skinner, Mckenzie Brown, Also, 15 other great-grandchildren, nine great, great grandchildren; goddaughter Mary Green; godson Rickey Frager and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.