Reverend Leroy Williams

Rev. Leroy Stephen Williams completed his earthly journey on Saturday morning, January 6, 2018, and he is now resting eternally with our Heavenly Father. Rev. Leroy Williams was a native of Portsmouth, Virginia, born to the late Dorothy Bazemore and LeRoyal Williams. Leroy was educated in the Portsmouth Public School System and graduated from I.C. Norcom High School in 1965. While in high school, Leroy was a student athlete and notably played football for the Greyhounds (team captain). He participated in the student government (class president; commencement speaker) and remained active with his graduating class until the time of his death. He was a member of the English Club, the Industrial Arts Club and served as sports editor of the Norcom Gazette. After high school, Leroy immediately began his undergraduate studies and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (known today as Norfolk State University) in 1969. While in college he joined the Drama Club and was known for his lead male role of Jason in the theatrical production “Medea.” He was on the newspaper staff, a member of the student senate, vice president of the student government association, president of the student body and in 1967, he became a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. by way of the Pi Gamma Chapter. In addition, Leroy was elected to Who’s Who Among College and University Students. He was employed as an English teacher right out of college at his high school alma mater and he furthered his education and earned a Master’s Degree from Norfolk State University. Mr. Williams taught for twenty years at Manor High School (1972-92). He was the senior class sponsor, senior trip sponsor, junior class sponsor, prom sponsor, Miss Manor Pageant sponsor, newspaper sponsor, yearbook sponsor, head football coach (South Eastern District co-champions), JV baseball coach, self-study evaluation coordinator, oratorical sponsor (local, state and national winners) and served on the steering committee. Mr. Williams was well known for his excellence in classroom instruction and was a great student motivator. He was a two-time winner of the principal’s award for outstanding contributions to the school and received numerous nominations as Manor Teacher of the Year. Mr. Williams taught at I.C. Norcom for twenty years as well (1969-71 and 1992-2009). During his career at Norcom, he was the yearbook sponsor, newspaper sponsor, SCA sponsor, head baseball coach, assistant varsity football coach, and head scout (State championship in 1993), English department head, English instructional leader, school improvement team member, and a member of the I.C. Norcom Alumni Association. At Norcom Mr. Williams also received several nominations for school teacher of the year. He won the Outstanding Teacher Award and was recognized for Distinctive Contributions to Norcom under the leadership of the late Dr. Walter Taylor (principal). While teaching, he continued to further his studies in reading, education and administration at the College of William and Mary, the University of Virginia, and Old Dominion University. With his passion for education, he also worked as an adjunct professor at the Paul D. Camp Community College in Suffolk, VA. As the neighborhood paperboy for years, Leroy became accustomed to hard work. He was known for his customer service and utilized his experience to “learn” people and developed magnificent social skills. He could get along with ANYONE. He made you feel special and took pride in knowing A LOT of people. That work ethic he had since childhood remained present even in his adult life. In addition to teaching, he worked several part-time jobs for many years. He loved working at Sears and Roebuck in Downtown Portsmouth where he sold everything from fire arms to power tools to shoes until they relocated to Greenbrier Mall. He worked at Montgomery Ward in Tower Mall where he sold sporting goods and lawn and garden equipment. Leroy believed in doing “his part” in service, which can be validated by his many educational memberships. [NEA, PEA, VEA, VATE, Tate-t, Portsmouth Reading Council, School Administrators Association, NCTE, PRC, IRA, and VSRA] Mr. Williams received many recognitions and awards. A few of them were: Who’s Who Among American Teachers, Virginia State Secondary Reading Teacher of the Year (1993), Who’s Who Among Men in the United States, and a Bridge Builders Award recipient (Zeta Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.). Leroy was very proud to be inducted into the I.C. Norcom High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. Rev. Williams was a life-long member of the historic Third Baptist Church of Portsmouth, VA where he joined at an early age. Being very active in the church, he developed into a well-rounded Christian and earned the love and respect of his peers and others who came in contact with him. He was active in the church’s youth programs such as Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, the Cub Scouts, the Boy Scouts, the Explorers, and many church theatrical productions. As an adult he sang tenor in the Third Baptist Chorus (charter member) and the Senior Choir. Rev. Leroy faithfully taught Sunday School and Baptist Training Union for over forty years. He also served as a deacon (15 years) until he was called to preach. Other positions of service at Third Baptist were: youth assembly advisor, assistant superintendent of the Sunday School, co-chairman of the church anniversary committee, and a teacher in the tutorial program. While serving as a minister of the gospel, Pastor Leroy began as an associate minister at his home church, Third Baptist. He then served as the Assistant Pastor at the New Mount Vernon Baptist Church in the Cavalier Manor area of Portsmouth. Later, Rev. Williams served as Interim Pastor at Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple in Portsmouth and was then called to pastor the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Emporia, Virginia, where he served as Senior Pastor for seven years. Leroy met the love of his life while in high school and cherished that love via marriage for over fifty years to the former Lena “Jeanie” Harding. From that union they had three sons, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rev. Williams loved to vacation with his wife, his children and especially his grandchildren - from Massachusetts to Florida, Virginia to California and many many places in between. Leroy was a great example to many as a model husband and father. Not wanting for recognition, but he took pride in loving other people and showing concern for family and friends all of his life. Rev. Williams is survived by his wife of fifty years, Lena Harding Williams; three adult sons, Michael (Michelle), Darryl and Stephen Williams; four grandchildren, Laniqua Taylor (Bryan), Domineke Thomas, Christopher Waters and Bria Williams; two great-grandchildren, Tracy Jones and Dakota Taswell; two brothers, Linwood, Sr. (Kim) and Robert (Kathleen) Williams; one sister, Kathleen Barnett; two very special aunts, Mary V. Hall and Lillian L. Hasty; a wonderful mother-in-law, Mildred S. Harding, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.

Reverend Leroy Williams

February 12, 1947 - January 6, 2018