Williams, Brady W.
7/9/1980
November 17, 1918 - July 9, 1980 |
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| Brady W. Williams was born November 17, 1918, the youngest of eight children born to Charlie and Ida Williams of Athens, Texas. He grew up in Athens, attending and graduating from high school there. Brady heard God’s call to the ministry at an early age, but resisted that call for a long time. He began to work at various jobs, got married, and became involved as a lay member of a Baptist Church. God’s call was a persistent one, and after a lengthy struggle Brady surrendered his life to God to do God’s bidding. He spent two years in the Baptist Seminary at Fort Worth. After becoming convinced that he was really a Methodist at heart, he sought admission to the Texas Conference of The Methodist Church. He was received into this new relationship at the age of thirty-two. His first appointment was to the Methodist Church at Brownsboro, Texas, where he was to serve for two years while also attending Tyler Junior College. He was then appointed to Centerville, Texas, where he served while completing his studies at Sam Houston Univer-sity and doing theological studies at Perkins. He continued to serve in the Texas Conference, serving appointments at Van, Edom, Karnack, Whitehouse, Groves, and Pasadena Boulevard. In 1975 he transferred to the Louisiana Conference and was appointed to the Winbourne United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, where he served until his untimely death on July 9, 1980. Brady, along with two of his brothers, were to serve effectively as ministers of God in the Church. His brother, Lloyd, was a minister in our Louisiana Conference until his death in 1970. Funeral services were conducted from the Winbourne United Methodist Church where Brady had served so effectively for five years. The service of worship and celebration was led by his District Superintendent, Kirby A. Vining, and a fellow pastor, Rev. J. M. Wilkes. Interment was in the Texas Conference Cemetery at Palestine, Texas. Brady is survived by his wife, Mrs. Irene D. Williams, two daughters, five sons, one sister, two brothers, one half-brother, fifteen grandchildren, and a host of friends. While serving in the Texas Conference, Brady earned the reputation as a builder. As such he was always leading his people in the construction of new sanctuaries, educa-tional buildings, and parsonages. But buildings alone do not give us a full assessment of his labors as a minister, for it was under his leadership that many people were brought into the fold of the Kingdom. With his radiant spirit, he sought to implant his knowledge and love of Christ in the lives of all he touched. In every church he served there are those who found in him a channel of God’s love and strength and comfort. There are those who learned from him, by precept and example, of the Christian way, and heard from him the Good News of God. They were drawn to that closer walk. Brady was a person of great spiritual depth and a man of great faith. He was ever mindful and appreciative of God’s love and blessings. He loved the United Methodist Church and the people whom he served, but above all, he loved the One who had called him to this life of service in the ministry. It was a blessing to be associated with him in the ministry. He always responded willingly and ably to the call of the church. He was never hesitant about going the second mile. He was a faithful servant and a diligent pastor. It was a heartwarming experience to see Brady face the coming of death, unafraid and with confidence. The illness he endured could destroy his body, but it could never undermine or destroy his stalwart faith. He never lost his smile or his courage. Like another great soldier of yesterday, Brady fought a good fight; he finished the race; he kept aglow the faith; and then he went home as the victor to claim that crown of righteousness. We have been blessed by his coming and liv-ing among us, and for sharing so richly with us the life that he lived. |
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| Source: Journal of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, 1981, Pages 180, by Kirby A. Vining. | |
