Albert Donald Williams

August 12, 1942 - February 14, 2018

On St. Valentine's Day, February 14, 2018, The Heavenly Host and the ancestors softly and tenderly whispered to Albert Donald Williams that it was time for him to come home.  His work on earth of dispensing joy and laugher and giving comforting to those in need had come to an end. 

Spring Season

Albert Donald Williams  has completed his full Seasonal lifetime chart on Planet Earth. His SPRING SEASON  began On August 12,1942, in Houston, Texas, where he was born to Jesse Edward Williams and Martha Louise Robinson Williams.  The family members loving called him Don.  He was christened in Houston at St. Paul C.M.E. Church, that later became Sheeler Memorial C.M.E. Church. 

In 1943 his family moved to Los Angeles, California.  When he was  three years old, the spirit moved him and he started preaching to family members.  He would stand on a box and the divine word of God would flow through him from Calvary’s Mountain as be recited the King James version Bible verses.  At an early age, he united with Hays Tabernacle C.M.E. Church and he sang in the Children's and Youth choirs.  The word of God as well as music was an important part of his life. As a child, Don, began taking piano and voice lessons with  Marjorie Tucker. After a few years, he discontinued the lessons. He was musically inclined and the music came from within the depths of his inner self  which gave him the ability to play the piano music by ear. Besides playing with other children in the neighborhood, riding his tricycle, skating, making scooters from old skates he was active in the Boy Scouts.

Summer Season

Don continued his Earthly Journey into his SUMMER SEASON and he received his education in Los Angeles Public school system.  He attended Russell Elementary,  Edison Jr. High, and graduated from Fremont High School. He took Horticulture classes and Woodshop classes at Fremont High School. The Horticulture classes assisted him in helping his parents plant and cultivate beautiful flower gardens and nutritional vegetable gardens. His woodshop classes gave him the ability to make various pieces of furniture for his home. He continued with the Scouts and he was elevated to the Explorer Scouts as a teenager and was able to go on Summer camping trips where he learned to swim.

Fall Season

The next phrase of Don’s  Earthly Seasonal Life was  his FALL SEASON.  Albert Donald married Mary Yancy  in the early 1960’s. This union ended in divorce. On November 23,1976, he  married Artealia Hollins his soul mate. They moved to Pomona, California, with her daughter Jessie Mae and helped raise the grandchildren.  Don continued to create songs by ear on the piano and he eventually  taught himself to play the Organ. Don did not become a preacher, but he was an avid reader of the Bible. He memorized numerous Bible verses and quoted them as lessons to live by and wisdom to explain the world.  He also studied the Bible through his telephone conferences.  Don united with Macedonia  Baptist Church in Pomona, California, serving as pianist of the Sunday School, sang in the Inspirational Choir and the Men’s Chorus.

Don was an industrious and conscientious entrepreneur in janitorial services. He had contracts with Shakey’s and Straw Hat Pizza Parlors, and other businesses.  Keeping the pizza parlors clean was a top priority for a healthy environment for customers. Don was a pillar in his community.  He and Artealia assisted the Pomona Police Department  with the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), the City of Pomona’s planned response to emergency/disaster situations associated with natural disasters, technological incidents and national security emergencies.

Don’s sunny personality and love of music was an asset for his pizza parlor job.  At the grand opening of new restaurants, he would often serenade the customers with his inspiring and unique style of piano solos.  

In his “heyday”, family and friends often  gathered at Don’s house for a fun filled  holiday. His delicious and tender BBQ, scrumptious greens, and hot water cornbread became his Signature dishes. These dishes were food for the soul.  Music was always a big part of these gatherings.  Don would take his place at the organ and begin to entertain with his bluesy style.  Soon everyone would start singing along.

Winter Season

The final phase of his Earthly Seasonal Life was his WINTER SEASON.  After the death of Artealia, Don married Gwendolyn Keys.  Gwen was there to comfort and aid him in the final leg of his life’s journey.  She provided him with the utmost compassionate and gentle care that kept him going throughout his lengthy illness. Gwen was aided by her brother Elton, who forged, a loving and supportive bond with Don.  

Don’s parents, Martha  and Jesse Williams, and his wife, Artealia  Hollins Williams and his granddaughter, Roberlynn Sims preceded him in death.  He leaves to mourn his transition his wife Gwendolyn Keys Williams, his daughter, Jessie Mae Jones,  granddaughter, Alondriea Sims, grandson Datrone Sims, Geat grandchildren: Jamelia Rich, Katrina Aifesehi, Thea Daniels, Daevon Rone, Jaylynn moore, Jason Martin, great-great grandchildren: Ashanti Fane, Naoima Atkinson, Ariana Rone, brother: Jitahadi Imara (Eugene Howard Williams), sisters: Jessie Linda Williams Virgil, and Eugenia Elaine Williams Schnyder, and a host of

relatives and friends.

Don will be remembered for teaching us how to enjoy life, in all its simplicity and beauty. He was fond of saying, “ I have it together in all types of weather.” This was the essence of a “blues man, improvising and plowing through the storms of life. The blues did not bother Don because he was “blues man.” He loved to play the blues.  This was His way of giving joy and happiness through his music. Somewhere in Heaven, Don is playing the blues for  the angels, his parents, and all those waiting to “finger pop.” Let us smile and rejoice that this blues man, son of Jesse and Martha Williams is now with his maker, surrounded by love and at peace with himself because of the life he lived on earth and the glory he gave to his Lord.

Rest in Peace Don, thou faithful husband, father, son, and brother..