Parthena Williams

Parthena “Pot” Mitchell Williams was born on May 4, 1934 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She was one of eleven children born to Thomas and Gracie Hudson Mitchell. 

She attended Peake High School and was a member of St. Paul AME Church. Parthena met the handsome and tall Jesse C. Williams, Sr. He was known around Arkadelphia as “Slick”. She was impressed with his dancing skills and how he was the life of the party. 

After a brief courtship she married the love of her life on January 5, 1950. In January 2010, they had a grand celebration to commemorate their 60 years of marriage. They settled at Pine Court Apartments #64 and started a family. The Lord blessed them with eight healthy and lively children. From meager beginnings, they made sacrifices as parents to make sure that their children were clean, mannerable and well behaved. 

Parthena worked as the kitchen supervisor for the CADC until her retirement, she later worked at Jaunita’s Candy Kitchen. She loved being in the company of family and friends at house parties, birthday parties and family gatherings. Her greatest joy was watching Slick dance the night away and from time to time she was known to cut a step. She enjoyed entertaining, dancing and playing Pokeno.

She lived a full live, happy and content. She believed in the golden rule “do unto others, as you have them do unto you”. 

On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, she passed into the Lord’s embrace. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jesse C. “Slick” Williams, Sr., (May 2, 2018) and six siblings; three sons, Wilbert F. Williams (April 6, 1990), Bruce M. Williams (August 2, 1992) and Victor E. Williams (June 10, 2010); a daughter, Mary Williams Daly (March 23, 2017) and a grandson, Wilbert Fred Williams, Jr. 

She leaves a lifetime of memories with her children, Belinda Henderson of Little Rock, AR, Jesse and Ramona Williams Jr. of Fresno, TX, Joyce Williams of Little Rock, and KL Williams of Hot Springs; 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; sisters, Gracie Walton of Oakland, CA, Ester (Rev. Sterling) Samuels of Hot Springs, AR, Virginia Johnson of Hot Springs, AR and Carol Tippen of Henderson, NV; a sister-in-law, Georgia Hill of Arkadelphia, AR. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, special friends, Barbara Ussery, Lee Alice Wingfield, Ruby Jean Knox, Claretta Newborn, Charlesue Todd and Annie Mae Jones, as well as, other friends. 

Public visitation will be from 1:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2019 at St. Paul AME Church. A celebration of her life will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at St. Paul AME Church with Rev. T. W. Scott, eulogist. Interment will be Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Julius Ussery, Robert “Duke” Ussery, Jr., Carl Johnson, Ollie Ware, Sr. Joshua Ware and Sam Thomas Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be the grandsons of Parthena Williams.