Augustus Charles Williams was born on August 4, 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky to the late Gustava Mogulene Williams and Mamie Lee Bailey Williams. During the early years of his life, he became a member of East Second Street Christian Church where three generations of his family attended and served. His brother, James Elwood Williams was Augustus’s only sibling. James, his wife Dorothy, and their daughter Andelle Lee Williams have preceded Augustus in death.
Being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1942, Mr. Williams returned to Lexington to finish his last semester at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Upon earning his high school diploma, Augustus entered Kentucky State College, now Kentucky State University.
After completing his sophomore year in college, on June 12, 1948, he and his high school sweetheart, Jennie Vivian Taylor were married in the living room of the home where she spent her childhood, with Dr. William Augustus Jones, officiating.
Augustus transferred to Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State College, now Tennessee State University, to be with Jennie who was employed in Nashville, Tennessee as a nurse, seeking a degree at Fisk University. On the same day in 1950, Augustus graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tennessee State University and Jennie graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Fisk University. In 1974, at the age of 50, Mr. Williams, earned a Masters of Education from the University of Cincinnati.
Mr. Williams began his career as Director of Recreation for the city of Kingsport, Tennessee where he was instrumental in securing the first swimming pool for African Americans. He returned to his alma mater, Tennessee State, to earn his National American Water Safety Instructors Certificate where he spent time with his good friend John Hillard, an excellent athlete who lettered four years. In 1966 Augustus and Jennie were traveling north on Interstate 75 towards Cincinnati with his family and his wife Jennie said “Don’t forget to stop to see your friend John.” Before leaving Cincinnati, John Hillard offered Mr. Williams a teaching and coaching position in the Lincoln Heights School District. He accepted that position and spent twenty three wonderful years working for Lincoln Heights School District which later merged to make up the Princeton City School Districts from which he retired from being a science teacher and assistant track coach. Mr. Williams helped lead various track teams to State Championship meets and interacted with legendary track greats Jesse Owens, Harrison Dillard, Ralph Boston, Lucinda Williams and Aeriwentha (Mae) Faggs Starr.
After relocating to Cincinnati, Mr. Williams became a member of Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church under Reverend B. W. Smith. Over fifty years of faithful membership included being ordained Deacon in 1982, serving faithfully as Sunday school teacher, Secretary of the Joint Board, Laymen’s League, Male Chorus, R. D. Wess Scholarship Ministry, the Trustee board and in any capacity where help was needed.
Soon after retiring from Princeton City School District, at the age of sixty five, Deacon Augustus Williams was asked by Reverend Freddie T. Piphus, former Senior Pastor of Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church to help start a scouting program in Lincoln Heights. Mr. Williams said yes, and began training and gathering the information required to become the Charter Representative of Scout Unit 772 which was successfully chartered in 1989.
Mr. Williams was Wood Badge trained and earned the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award given to a volunteer in the local scouting council. Many wonderful volunteers were and are a part of this very successful effort as 39 young men from Scout Unit 772 have earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Many of the Eagle Scouts have successfully completed college, married, have families of their own, one in the NFL, working and serving in all sectors including public service, technology, health care, engineering and the military. These young men have gone on to do great things and have a unique bond as Eagles Scouts from Unit 772 and carry friendships and experiences through Scouting that will last a lifetime.
Mr. Williams was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Rho Psi chapter, Tennessee State University, May 5, 1949 and is a life member. He leaves a brotherhood of men, who stayed near and dear to him, of particular note Brother Mikle Brown who exemplified the fraternal bond. Brother Brown kept close watch on Mr. Williams as he aged and was of great comfort when Mr. Williams lost his wife, Jennie. Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated made sure Mr. Williams felt the love and commitment of their brotherhood. Mr. Williams was also a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Ohio Retired Teachers Association, Tennessee State University Alumni Association, University of Cincinnati Alumni Association and the Nicodemus Historical Society.
As a father to not only his own 5 children, he was a father to many. As a young man who grew up without his father, he made every effort as an adult to mentor, guide, love and encourage young men and women.
Mr. Augustus Williams left a legacy of love for education to his family. He was so proud of the brilliant, hard working youngsters, and some not so young, who also value education, are responsible to and for their families and community, who love the Lord and know how to walk by faith. Through his example of service to his community, the legacy continues with doctors, professors, entrepreneurs, those in music ministry at their places of worship, published writers and of course, teachers.
His amazing legacy would not be possible without the love of his life, Jennie Vivian Taylor Williams, with whom he was blessed to experience 70 years of marriage, who preceded him in death on January 2, 2019. Together as a couple, they were an example of what is meant to leave a place better than how it was found. They lived their lives in a manner that made life better for everyone they touched, as a teacher and as a nurse, but they were so much more. The bond of husband and wife could not have been stronger. Both Mr. & Mrs. Williams will be greatly missed on this side, now together once again, in their heavenly home. They were exceptional human beings who lived most and served best.
Having departed this life on October 22, 2024, Augustus Charles Williams, preceded in death by his loving wife of over 70 years, Jennie Taylor Williams. He leaves to celebrate his homegoing five children from their blessed union, Charles F. (Delores, deceased) Williams, Patricia W. (Ray) Murphy, Wayne M. (Tangela) Williams M.D., Bonita W. (Craig Sr.) Chavis and Jennifer V. (Dorian) White, eighteen grandchildren, over twenty-seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
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