Lue T Williams

Lue Williams, dearly beloved matriarch of the Williams family passed away in her sleep, Wednesday, August 24, 2021 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

She was the second of five children born June 25, 1925 to Rev. J. B. and First Lady Ora Lee Thomas in Little Rock, Arkansas.  She was preceded in death by both parents, one brother, two sisters and a half brother and sister.

Lue was raised in the Baptist faith, blessed with a beautiful singing voice.  She grew up, sang and worshiped at Thomas Memorial Baptist Church, pastored by her father Rev. J. B. Thomas.

In 1942 in Little Rock, she married Fred Williams, a military man serving in World War II.  Following his military service, and the birth of their oldest child, Beverly, the family moved to Chicago.  Two sets of twins, Janet and Lanet and Kevin and Karen were added to the family.

In Chicago, Lue joined and joyously served as choir director at Greater Bethlehem M.B. Church.  In later years she became music director at Morning Star Baptist Church and Saint John Church Baptist.

Throughout her active church years, Lue served as a director of gospel choir, young adult choirs and children’s choirs.  She attended the National Baptist Convention across the country as a member of the Women’s auxiliary.

The family moved from Chicago to Maywood, Illinois in 1961.  Lue was a working spouse through the years, using secretarial and people skills to work at Summerower Realty, the EEOC program at a military base near O’Hare airport, retiring in 2002.  She was a devoted piano teacher, giving private lessons in her home, at the Maywood Fine Arts Academy and at church under Saint John Performing Arts Center

A late achievement for Lue was to be the first runner-up in the Mrs. Illinois Senior Citizen Pageant.  As a result of that she was invited to sing at the Illinois State Fair later that year.

She was a God-fearing woman for whom church and family were always uppermost for her.  She found time to seek higher education at Roosevelt University and Moody Bible Institute.  She was passionate about learning and encouraged the same passion in her children, grandchildren and students.

She is survived by her children, Beverly Williams, Janet Hardnett, Lanet Williams Stewart (Ron Stewart), Kevin Williams and Karen Jones (Sam Jones), seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchild, one sister, Earlene Blanchard, three siblings that preceded her in death and many nephews, nieces, friends and the Saint John Church Baptist family.

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