lee henry williams, jr.

1932-2007

Life Story

Birth and Parentage

Lee Henry Williams, Jr. was born on September 13, 1932, to Lee Henry Williams, Sr. (1907–2005) and Nancy Nichols Williams (1911–2004). Census records indicate that in both 1940 and 1950, his parents were residing in Holmes County, Mississippi, suggesting that Lee Henry, Jr.’s early years were shaped within that community before later migration.

Marriage and Family

Lee Henry Williams, Jr. married Ardellia Wesley Williams (1928–1991), daughter of Van Wesley and Alma Cleo Walker Wesley of Newton County, Mississippi. Their union produced a large family, reflecting strong intergenerational ties characteristic of Saint John families.

Their children include:

David Williams
Charles Williams
Jeffery Williams
Johnny Williams
Clark Williams
Lee Henry Williams III
Nenetta Williams
Carolyn Smith
Betty Williams

Through these children, the Williams and Wesley families became firmly interwoven across multiple generations.

Occupation

During his adult life, Lee Henry Williams, Jr. was employed in auto detailing at a car dealership, a line of work that required consistency, physical labor, and attention to detail. His occupation reflects the steady, service-based employment common among Mississippi migrants who established lives in urban centers outside the state.

Death

Lee Henry Williams, Jr. passed away on February 5, 2007, in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. The cause of death was metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

The informant listed on his death certificate was his son, Clark Williams, providing a direct familial confirmation of the record.

Burial

Following his death, Lee Henry Williams, Jr. was returned to Mississippi for burial. He is laid to rest at Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard in Newton County, Mississippi, alongside his wife and extended Wesley family.

Sidebar: Documentation and Family Continuity

The inclusion of an occupational history, medical cause of death, and named informant strengthens the evidentiary record for Lee Henry Williams, Jr. Such details not only humanize the biography but also reinforce family continuity, showing how children—particularly Clark Williams—played a role in formally preserving the family’s historical record.

Resting Place

Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard

Photos/Albums

Sources

1940 Federal Census
1950 Federal Census
The Newton Record, Ardellia Wesley Williams Obituary, Wed, Jan 15, 1992 ·Page 5
Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011
Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2005
U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014

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