Louis Williams

Louis Williams, 94, of Tottenville, a long-time fixture in the community who was known for his larger-than-life personality, his love of the Lord, his persistence in the midst of heartbreak, and his pride in working hard and in being a loving husband, father, and grandfather, died Sunday in his home.

Born in Halifax, N.C., his parents were Garfield Williams and the former Maggie Pierce. Louis was the last surviving child of a large family of 12 children that included 8 brothers and four sisters. He spent his youth in North Carolina, but later followed in the footsteps of several of his brothers and sisters who all relocated to Staten Island. Initially, he moved to West Brighton; later, his sister, Jessie White, was bequeathed a home in Tottenville where she, Louis, and their other sister, Celestella Rich, all lived together. This uniquely marked them as members of the few black families living in that area in the 1960s. In the following decades, while Jessie and her husband William resided downstairs, Louis and his wife lived upstairs, raising their five children. Over the years, the home, located on Arthur Kill Road, became a center base for the entire extended family serving as the site of many family gatherings and holiday events; both Louis and his sister remained in the residence until their passing.

Louis worked for 44 years at the former Bayley Seton Hospital in Clifton, where he worked alongside his sister Jessie and her husband. He was eventually promoted to Supervisor of Housekeeping retiring in 1998.

While in North Carolina, Louis met the love of his life, the former Ella Mae Mitchell. He brought her to Staten Island and the two were married on November 10, 1955, in Shiloh AME Zion Church, West Brighton.

Ella Mae died in 1988; Louis never remarried.

While he was short in stature, Louis was known for his larger-than-life personality that included being feisty, sharp-witted, and having a no-nonsense attitude. He was also known for his endless storytelling skills, which often entertained family and friends, as well as his hearty, uproarious laugh. In later years, he became known for his self-made, snazzy, one-line rhyming slogans, which though concise proved either complimentary or taught lessons about life.

Louis endured much heartache during his many years as he outlived his wife, four of his five children, and all 11 of his brothers and sisters. But he was a survivor who always kept a smile on his face, always moving forward with strength and grace despite having endured great sorrow.

A self-taught guitar player, Louis mastered playing the blues on the instrument and worked to pass the skill onto his children and grandchildren. His granddaughter Sheneikia Young recalls when she was a little girl he would play the guitar for her: “And I would tap in my little tap shoes and he would urge me on as he continued to play the guitar to get me to dance.”

Louis enjoyed smoking cigars on his enclosed porch. He also enjoyed the homemade sweet potato pies his niece made for him every year during the holidays.

“My uncle was one of a kind. He was made of that sturdy, unflappable strength that comes from persevering through hard times and making it through to the other side. He was a great family man and always did what was needed to take care of his loved ones. His spirit was immense and his laughter infectious. He will be greatly missed,” said his niece, K. Rich.

Long after his retirement, he stayed youthful and kept healthy well into his 90s by always walking around his neighborhood. A known fixture in the community, residents would often recite Louis’s slogans, which he was well known for. In addition, he was often spotted at the South Shore Convenience Store in Tottenville where he worked part-time in the mornings, often greeting neighbors and playing Lotto.

In addition to being predeceased by his wife, Ella Mae, Louis was also predeceased by his son, Carson Williams, who died in 2020; his son, Alex Williams, who died in 2019; his daughter, Phyllis A. Williams, who died in 2014; and his son, Calvin Williams, who died in 2011.

The last of 12 children, he was also predeceased by brothers, Agail, Dock, Lentee, Charles, Taswell, Howard, and Rolley; and sisters, Helen Clemons, Lillian Colfield Roberson, Jessie White, and Celestella Rich.

Surviving are his son, Aaron Wakley Williams; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, great-grandnephews, great- grandnieces, and other relatives and friends.

The service will be July 12 from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with the wake being held from 1-4 p.m. A private cremation will follow. Interment will be Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.