Giles, Mamie Williams (Mrs. William H.)
2/6/1969
MRS. MAMIE W. GILES
December 21, 1892-February 6, 1969
Mamie Williams Giles was born December 1, 1892 in Gwinett County, Georgia, the daughter of Alvin C. Williams and Ellen Nancy McConnell. She died February 6, 1969 in Luthersville, Georgia, where she, with her husband, Reverend William H. Giles, had lived since retirement from the Methodist Church, Louisiana Conference, in June, 1962.
Married June 4, 1918, she and her husband arrived in New Orleans on June 17 and were assigned to the Donaldsonville circuit, comprised of six preaching places. They served together for forty-four years as a team in several appointments. She accepted her role as a Methodist minister’s wife with joy and fully enjoyed the life of the parsonage. She graced every parsonage well, never criticizing the house and its furnishings. As hostess she enjoyed receiving visitors from the congregations, fellow parsonage families, and entertained often and gladly.
Most of all she loved her husband and daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Nichols of Moss Point, Mississippi, but she loved all people well, especially preachers and their families. She rarely entered into any divisions or friction among church groups. She often said, “I would like to be able to talk to and be friends to all on either side.” In many instances she was able to be peacemaker.
Her first and trained talent was teaching. At the time of her marriage she was principal of a grammar school in Auburn, Georgia. For four years following she taught in Louisiana public schools to help pay her husband’s school debt and to buy a Model T Ford. She was a strict tither of the parsonage income, and believed it to be a part of responsible stewardship never to buy on credit, not even a new car. She enjoyed teaching junior high boys and girls in the church school, and was happy in all the many vacation schools within the church. She experienced a simple and natural Christian faith. Never did she doubt or question her Christian duty, or fail to express her belief in life’s continuation after physical death. Loving God the Father, and Christ as her Lord and Saviour, she lived calmly and unafraid until she left for the Heavenly World to be with her Lord and multitude of loved ones and dear friends gone before.
Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 1969; p. 229
