The Omaha guide., 1933-02-11
Hold Impressive F funeral for Dr.. Williams
FATHER WILLIAM S,
CHURCH
ian N CIVIC
LEADER, BURIED
Gave AZ Years of Faithful Service

Requiem high mass was conducted
Tuesday morning for Father John AL
bert Williams, beloved rector Of the
Episcopal Church of St. Philips, at
St. Philips and public services were
held at the Trinity Cathedral Tues
day afternoon.
The afternoon service was attended
by Mayor Metcalfe, the Episcopal
clergy and parishioners from every
Omaha parish, and clery and laymen
from out Of town.
Bishop Shayler was assisted by
Bishop Irving P. Johnson Of the Col
orado diocese, Dean Stephen E. Nc
Ginley of Trinity cathedral and Rev.
F. J. Stecher Of st. Johns Episcopal
church, with clergymen Of the diocese
in the sanctuary.
An escort Of police under Captain
Payne preceded the funeral procession
to the cemetery and was stationed at
the church during the service.
DR.. Williams served as rector Of
St. Philips for AZ years and was gen-
orally considered to be n Of the best
known and best liked clergymen in
the United States. He had been the
recipient Of many honors during his
career. He was given one Of the
highest honors attainable in the Epis-
copal Church, Nov. 2, 1929, when Bis
hop E. v. Shayler bestowed upon him
the cross of the Order of Sangreal.
He was the only man in Omaha and
one of the few men in the world TO
be awarded this cross. 1t is given by
the church to persons who serve hero
ically in a quiet way.
Father Williams served on the
board Of many organizations Of gen
eral membership. He was the first
Negro to be a member of the Com
munity Chests governing board. He
served on the tornado relief commits
sion.
He helped organize and was the
first president Of the Omaha branch
of the National Association for the
Advancement Of Colored People. He
was treasurer Of the Woodson Cult
ural Center and a member of the
board Of the Urban League. For
many years he edited the Monitor.
Twelve years ago he was nominated
for the post Of bishop Of Haiti. but
lost ey a few votes. Three years la
ter he was urged for a missionary
bishopric.
During his residence in Omaha DR.
Williams declined several calls from
some Of the largest Episcopal church
es in the country. Among these
were St. Luke Church at Washington,
D. c., and st. Thomas church at
Philadelphia.
Father Williams was Sc years old.
His death was unexpected as he had
been in good health despite a slight
stroke suffered four years ago. We'd
nesday, as he and Mrs. Williams were
on their way to a dinner, he stepped
in a hole in the paying. The unex-
pected jar, Mrs. Williams said ap-
peared to bring on a heart attack
He was taken home and seemed to
be recovering, but died in his sleep
Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Williams
found the body.
Besides the widow, Father Williams
is survived a5 a son, Worthington of
Omaha and IVA daughters, Catherine.
a senior at the University Of Neb-
raska, and Dorothy, a teacher in Tulsa
Okla. Dorothy returned for the fun
eral.
The active pallbearers were: W. G..
Haynes, DR.. Herbert Virgins. : T.
Smith, Henry W. Black, Leslie
man and B. B. Cowan.
Honorary ~pallbearers: T. B. Ma
hammitt, Isaac Bailey, M. F. Single
ton, E. ". Pryor, Alphonse Wilson,
Alfred Jones, Calvin Spriggs, DR.. J.
H. Hutton, H. j. Crawford, DR.. L. z.
Britt, J. F. Smith, Saybert Hanger,
Fl. J. Pinkett, DR.. W. w. PEBBLES,
Mayor Metcafe, William Richie,
John Hedlund, Charles Hopper, Char
les Trimble, DR.. Charles Unit, J. w.
Barnhart, Eugene McAuliffe, Fred
Eastman, M. B. Potter, Robert Smith,
W. F. Baxter, Milton Darling, vanie
Wheatley, DR.. F. o. Beck, Joseph
Barker, F. H. Davis, B. H. Rhoades,
Arthur Pancoast, Paul r. Good. +.
W. Thomas, William Gosh, John r.
J Wolfe and Fl. W. Yates.