Page 40 - Florida Sentinel 12-4-20

Funerals/Memoriam
WOODY’S
BISHOP MATTHEW WILLIAMS
General Board Member, Church of God In Christ, Inc. Prelate, Florida Southwestern Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Pastor, Brown Memorial Church of God In Christ
Bishop Matthew Williams, 64, of Tampa, transitioned to his heav- enly home on November 27, 2020. The remains will repose Sunday, December 6, 2020, at Brown Me- morial Church of God in Christ, 2313 E. 27th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605, from 12 noon-8 p. m. This is a walk-through visitation. We are practicing social distancing and you are required to wear a mask.
Bishop Matthew Williams, was born on March 13, 1956 in Lake- land, Florida. He is the son of the late Elder Matthew Williams, Sr. and the late Mother Louise Williams. Bishop Williams gradu- ated from Brandon High School in 1974 and attended Hillsborough Community College to refine his musical skill.
In 1975, he started his career with Busch Gardens and remained there until he became a full-time pastor in 1987.
He accepted Christ as his per- sonal Savior in 1973, at the age of 17. He began working at the Brown Memorial Church of God In Christ as a Deacon in Training in 1975. A year later, he was or- dained a Deacon in this church. In 1980, Bishop Williams acknowl- edged his call to the ministry and in 1982 became a Licensed Minis- ter. He was ordained an Elder in February of 1984 by the late Bishop W. E. Davis.
On March 26, 1985, Bishop Williams was appointed Pastor of the Brown Temple Church of God In Christ. In March of 1996, Elder
FAMILY NOTICE
MR. HENRY LEE WALTON
Homegoing services for Mr. Henry Lee Walton, who transi- tioned on November 27, 2020, will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 2 p. m. at Anointed Word Church, 1709 West St. Joseph Street, in Tampa, FL, with Pastor Oscar Ruiz officiating. The repast following afterwards.
Mr. Walton was born in Trent, FL on October 17, 1946 to Willy James Walton and Bertha Lee Walton. Henry was an Army vet- eran and a transport driver for many years in Tampa.
He leaves to cherish fond memories with: his 4 children: Zachariah Walton, Zachariahs Walton, Zelinski Walton, and Alias Marshall; stepdaughters: Rhonda Jackson, and Terri James; 11 grandchildren; siblings, Jackie Walton, Willie James Walton, Kelly Walton (Jerome Perry), Re- becca Walton, Henrietta Cole- brook, Pauline Williams, Evelyn Robinson; and a host of other grieving relatives and friends.
*Due to CDC guidelines masks are required to enter the sanctu- ary.
Williams and the congregation marched into a newly built edifice. In honor of its founder, Bishop Williams changed the name of the church to the Brown Memorial Church of God In Christ.
Bishop Williams has held many positions throughout the Ju- risdiction. Among them were: Second Administrative Assistant to the late Bishop W. E. Davis, As- sistant Superintendent of the Pinellas District, Superintendent of the Greater Love/Suncoast Dis- trict, National Adjutant, and Over- seer Adjutant. Bishop Williams was consecrated and installed to the Sacred Office of Bishop of the Jurisdiction of Southwestern Florida on February 24, 1998.
Since his installment, Bishop Williams has served as Chairman of the Dress Code Committee, Pro- tocol Committee, and Election Committee for the Board of Bish- ops. He has also served as Adju- tant Bishop and Episcopal Coordinator of the Board of Bish- ops.
In January 2005, Bishop Williams was appointed Adjutant General of the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. For a period of three terms (2005 to 2017) he served as the chief minister of protocol for the national church denomina- tion. In November 2016, during the 109th Annual Holy Convoca- tion in St. Louis, Missouri, Bishop Matthew Williams was elected as one of the Church of God In Christ’s newest members of its General Board – the highest exec- utive and administrative board within the Church of God In Christ, consisting of twelve elected bishops, including the Presiding Bishop. Bishop Williams was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from St. Thomas Chris- tian College, Jacksonville, Florida, on April 21, 2018.
Bishop Matthew Williams was married to First Lady Gayle (Dixon) Williams for 44 years (June 26, 1976). They have been blessed with one child, Dr. De- niece Williams. Bishop Matthew Williams will be greatly missed by his family, his local church, the Ju- risdiction and the National Church of God In Christ, Inc.
Floral arrangements may be sent to Woody’s Funeral Home, 800 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756 on Sat- urday, December 5, 2020, from 10 a. m.-4 p. m., or to Brown Memo- rial Church of God In Christ from 10 a. m.-4 p. m. Resolutions may be sent to Woody’s Funeral Home, najowoody@verizon.net, or to btpeople@verizon.net.
Woody’s Funeral Home
BIRTHDAY MEMORIAM
MR. JOHNNY BERNARD WATSON November 28, 1969 –
November 4, 2020 With love, the family.
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