– Celebrating Black History Month – Lifelong Blytheville resident remains “old school”

By SANDRA BRAND

NEA Town Courier Editor

The son of a sharecropper, the Rev. Johnny Lee Williams was destined to be a preacher from a young age.

Born on Feb. 7, 1955 at 3:30 in the morning, Williams was assisted into the world by great-grandmother Jossie Hughes, the local midwife.

He was number seven of 10 children born to David Lee and Josiephine Williams. At the time, the family lived on the Simmon Farm in the Dell Community.

“We moved to Blytheville in 1960 and I've been here ever since,” he smiled.

Williams attended Franklin Elementary School and Harrison seventh-ninth grade.

School integration came in 1970. “My sophomore year, they closed Harrison and forced us to go to Blytheville High School,” he recalled.

Not happy with the move, Williams was part of a student group who formed a protest on the first day of school. “We planned a march,” he explained. “But someone snitched on us. The police were waiting on us at Harrison. They arrested a bunch of us; took us to jail and held us for one day. It was a scary experience.”

Williams was, however, more scared of his mom than the police. “My mom was strictly about education,” he shared. “I knew she would not be happy I had missed school.”

As it turned out, the young sophomore's mom did understand... this one time. But the next day, he was back in school and getting to the business of learning.

Speaking a little bit about his childhood, Williams said the family was poor and times were hard. “But I had a great mom and dad who loved us. Dad was a hard worker.”

Unfortunately, when Williams was only 10 years old, his father passed away. “Mom raised nine of us by herself,” he expounded. “Every year we chopped cotton, cut turnips... did whatever we needed to do to survive.”

Josiephine Williams was, however, a Christian woman who believed in the power of prayer. “We lived off of government assistance, but God brought us through,” the son said. “We were never put out of our house.”

Young Johnny, along with his five brothers and four sisters, were raised in church and he loved it. “There was no question on whether we would be in church on Sunday.”

He actually dedicated his life to God at the age of seven. He was baptized in a drainage ditch in Dell.

“I loved church when I was growing up,” he smiled. “Everyone said I was going to be a preacher so I didn't want to be one.”

God, however, had another plan. Williams felt the calling to preach at the age of 20. He preached his first sermon on Feb. 9, 1975 at the New Mt. Olive M.B. Church, under pastor Rev. L. Echols, on Elm Street in Blytheville.

Following high school graduation, Williams attended college in Illinois for a while before returning to Mississippi County and going to work for NIBCO. He later studied at Mississippi County Community College and Arkansas Baptist College.

Three months, however, after that first sermon, he began pastoring his first church, First Baptist at Dell, where he remained for seven years. He then pastored the New Salem Baptist Church in Luxora for 14 years; New Bethel in Blytheville for 18 years; and is now the pastor of Grace Temple in Osceola.

Before coming to the Osceola church in May 2023, Williams spent 14 years evangelizing all across the country.

Throughout his preaching career, Williams has always had another job. In fact, in 2022, he retired from a 47-year career as a truck driver.

“In 1972, my junior year in high school, I began driving the country bus route for the school... out near Yarbro,” he explained.

“I love traveling. I've driven through every state in America except two, Vermont and Idaho. I never had a serious accident. The Lord blessed me.”

Williams was, however, enjoying retirement when he received the call to pastor Grace Temple. “Some members of Grace Temple are the same members I pastored at New Salem back in the 70s,” he explained. “When they called, I agreed. I am back leading God's people.”

On a more personal note, Williams shared he married in 1976. He and his wife, Linda, now divorced, have two daughters. His daughter Demetria Williams is a first grade teacher at Carroll Smith Elementary in Osceola; and daughter Alisha Williams is the human resource director for the City of Blytheville.

Looking at changes in the world during his lifetime, Williams said he is still old school. “The use of technology has caused things to change and people's attitude toward church has changed. They now come to church dressed like they are going to the club.”

Reiterating that he is “old school”, Williams stressed one thing has not changed – the word of God. “The message has not changed.”

Williams said we might not agree on doctrine, but we are all still God's children. “God loves the individuals... not the sin.”

Looking at the young people today, Williams said he wishes they had the opportunity “to come up under old school churches and parents.”

When he grew up on 9th Street in Blytheville Williams said your parents were your parents, not your friends. “Now parents try to be their friends and they have lost their respect.

“I was a grown man and I couldn't say 'lie' in front of my mom,” Williams continued. “When my mom said something, she meant it and she backed it up.”

Williams said he is grateful his mom and dad taught their children respect and to work hard.

Sharing a funny story, Williams said when he grew up on 9th Street the family had a chicken house and a smoke house. His dad would keep a gasoline can in the chicken house and Williams would go out there to sniff the can. One day, he stayed too long and actually passed out. When he woke up and went into the house, the gas smell was on his clothing. Well, it was winter time and he sat down next to the wood stove.

“Dad snatched me up and took me outside,” Williams laughed. “He cured me with his hand. That was the last of my 'drug use.”

Williams, who says he has lived long enough to be a senior citizen, is grateful for God's blessings. “God is able and I am grateful for what he has already done. I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. The Bible teaches me to love everyone.

“I'm doing the best I can and having a great time!”