Presenter
Presented by Mr. Udin
Body
Whereas, Reverend Elmer Louis Williams (October 13, 1931-January 13, 1990) is awarded The Spirit of King Award 2005 in recognition of her lifework as a community activist; and
Whereas, Reverend Williams began his pastoral and civil rights leadership at an early age, initiated through baptism on his 11th birthday in the Hackensack River of Elizabeth, New Jersey and the tutelage of his grandmother, which he would later undergirt with the many teachings of his assassinated friend, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
Whereas, in September of 1969, Reverend Williams was called from the First Baptist Church in Vauxhall, New Jersey, where he was already involved in the desegregation of public schools and the King marches, to pastor the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in East Liberty where he used his fiery teaching and preaching style to stimulate the spiritual growth of the community and champion for the improvement of public school education; and
Whereas, in his efforts to nurture the community by example, Reverend Williams completed many projects to renovate Sixth Mount Zion and expand its physical boundaries, thereby improving the community- at- large, for example, the church purchased and renovated the homes on Farlson Square, now named in his honor, " Elmer L. Williams Square;" and
Whereas, Reverend Williams served as Executive Director of Pittsburgh Opportunities Industrialization Centers, Inc. and as member of the Pittsburgh School Board, where he was responsible for developing desegregation plans for the entire district; and
Whereas, a sought-after lecturer, Reverend Williams taught classes on the black church at the University of Pittsburgh and served as a member of its board of trustees, he was also an instructor at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Community College of Allegheny County; and
Whereas, Reverend Williams was co-organizer of the East End Baptist Fellowship, life...
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