Corrine S. Williams

Corrine S. Williams , affectionately called “Christmas” was born on December 25,1949 to the union of Reverend Dr. G.C. Simpson, Sr. and Beatrice (Bea) Cash Simpson of Memphis, Tennessee. They were joined in holy matrimony on August 9, 1942 in Jericho, Arkansas. Corrine was the youngest of four children: one sister, Gloria Marie Nesby, two brothers, Rev. Grover Cleveland Simpson Jr. (Jessie); Franklin Delano Simpson (deceased). Corrine’s mother, Beatrice Cash Simpson preceded her in death on October 27, 1974 making her father, Rev. Simpson Sr. a widower. Shortly thereafter, Reverend Simpson Sr. married Ruth Blake Simpson in 1975, who brought her own children to that union: Harold Blake of Marked Tree, Arkansas (deceased), and Crystal Blake Carter (Timothy) of Cleveland, Ohio. Corrine made her transition to be home with the Lord on Monday, February 10, 2014 in Saginaw, Michigan. Corrine S. Williams is survived by her children: one son, Alaric Bertram Simpson ,one daughter, Felecia Lenee Williams, both of Pasadena, California; and one daughter, Frances Olaria Smith of Memphis, Tennessee. Two granddaughters, Chrisheana Corrine and Oteisha Danielle. She is the Aunt to Lawrence McGaughy, Jr., Lambert and Tonya McGaughy, Curtis and Patricia Smith, all residing in Georgia; Philana Johnson of Houston, Texas; Orlando and Sciara Simpson of West Memphis, Arkansas, Tamika and James Morganfield of Memphis, Tennessee, a bonus niece and nephew, Ebony Blake and Harrison Gonzales of Cleveland, Ohio, and a host of grand and great nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind two goddaughters: Monique Riley of Saginaw, MI, and Mallory Williams of Toledo, Ohio. She is also survived by her aunt Naomi R. Cash and an honorable mention to her beloved cousins, Frances, Linda (deceased), Naomi R. Jr., Christa, Pauline, Ira, Alice, Ardelia, Doris, Willie Mae, Dorothy, Robert, Troy, and other family members and close friends. Corrine, in her lifetime married and divorced twice: first, to Otis D. Smith of Memphis, Tennessee; and second, to Louis A. Williams of Detroit, Michigan. Corrine confessed her belief in Christ at the young age of 7 years during a Revival Service at the St. Thomas Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee under the leadership of Rev. E. D. Johnson. She recalls that her father, an Associate Minister at St. Thomas M. B. Church, thought that she was too young to join church; although, he had allowed her brother to do so during the same week of Revival. Corrine, had a “strong will” and a “strong mind” even at the young age of seven years. Therefore, she was baptized in the “muddy waters” along with her friends at the First Baptist Church in Joiner, Arkansas where her father, Dr. Rev. G.C. Simpson Sr. was the Pastor. She joined the Freewill Baptist Church in Saginaw, Michigan when she relocated there in 1989; and was adopted by the Reverend James L. Dorsey and family. Corrine worships with all denominations, as she takes the best of the different religious beliefs in order to apply the principles to her daily life. Corrine has received numerous Awards and/or Certificates as President of the Black Associates in State Employment; the Saginaw African American; and Minority Business Association and the Tri-City Chapter of the Association of Black Social Workers, Inc. She has received several honors as an Assistant Payments Worker and Manager for the Department of Human Services, aka, the Family Independence Agency, aka, Department of Social Services where she was employed for over thirty-two years. Accordingly, she has been honored as a Scholar in both High School and College. Having been raised in the South, Corrine spent more than 40 years being a “Civil Rights Activist”. She was one of four African American females to integrate West Memphis Senior High in West Memphis, Arkansas from Wonder High School in the Second Semester of her Junior Year in 1966. Prior to relocating to West Memphis, Arkansas from Memphis, Tennessee with her parents, Reverend and Mrs. G.C. Simpson Sr. , Corrine attended Leath Elementary School and Porter Junior High School. As a result, of her diverse background, Corrine continues to promote Diversity as a Consultant, Professional Speaker and Writer. Corrine has faced numerous challenges over the years in her personal life, with her health, and her job. She was blessed to have such wonderful friends in her life, such as, Odellia Gooden, Heidi Norfleet, Margaret Brown, Gwen Porterfield, Tina Browning, Marilyn Daniels, Debra Donahue, Ralph Johnson, M. Louise Johnston, Lynn Kryzaniak, Lela Lindsey, Linda Mawdssley, Shirley A. Norman, Carlos Ortiz, Roy C. Patton, Jessie Mae Purifoy, Pernell Rogers, Frances Stewart, Willette White, her mentees, Heidi Norfleet and Tracey Fountain, Yolanda Young, and the Westmorelands, who were there when she needed them. Corrine has prayed over “empty” plates when there was “no food” in the house to make a meal. She would recite Psalms 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want…” as her Mother taught her to do. She has faced, “acts of discrimination” during her childhood, as well as her adulthood. As it is written in the Scripture, “ Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning”. Psalms 30:5. Corrine states that she has “Still Got Joy”, after all that she has been through. Corrine S. Williams wants all of you to know that, “she never could have made it without you”. Family hour will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 17, 2014 at the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue, with the funeral commencing at 11:00 a.m. Rev Mildred Dorsey-Bell will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. A family hour will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 602 Elm Street, in Marked Tree, AR, with the funeral service commencing at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place in Arkansas. Arkansas arrangements entrusted to Anthony Funeral Home-North, 200 N. 13th Street, West Memphis, AR 72301. (866) 466-5829.

Corrine S. Williams

December 25, 1949 - February 10, 2014