Longtime Saint James Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Larry Williams will be laid to rest Tuesday.
Williams was 61 when he died this past Saturday.
While at Saint James, he established the church’s jail ministry. He also served as the church’s Sunday School superintendent, youth ministry director, trustee and choir member. He also earned two master’s degrees and three bachelor’s degrees in religion and theology.
Williams was also connected to the community in other ways, serving on the Lyon County Heath Department and CareArc administrative boards. Here’s CareArc CEO Renee Hively:
Audio PlayerWilliams was also a member of the Emporia High School Site Council board and served as chaplain for the Emporia Fire Department.
Originally from Chicago, he and his wife, Lawana, moved to Emporia as Larry Williams developed a career at Iowa Beef Production before starting mentoring programs like Rites of Passage and Be The Change and developing his community connections through his time at Saint James. Family friend Al Slappy says Williams was focused on children, but his work translated to the entire community.
Audio PlayerA celebration of life is coming at 11 am Tuesday at First United Methodist Church. Visitation will take place at 10 am, with a Masonic ceremony at 9:30 am. Burial is at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
