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Bishop Elijah Williams was born in Maple Hill, North Carolina to the late Charlie and Martha P. Williams. He has five sisters. He is
a graduate of the Pender County Public Schools. In 1961, he graduated from the United Christian College, Goldsboro, NC with a
Bachelor of Theology degree. In 1969, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Fayetteville State University.
He studied at North Carolina A & T University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Additional study culminated with
a Master of Theological Studies degree from Duke University Divinity School in 1991.
Bishop Williams is the former pastor of Antioch Holy Church, Rocky Point, NC 1961 - 1963 and Holy Trinity United Holy Church,
Siler City, NC 1962 - 1981. He was the pastor of Jerusalem United Holy Church in Reidsville, NC from August 1981until July, 2008.
Bishop Williams has served the United Holy Church in all capacities. Positions held on the District Convocation level include Union officer, district elder, Board
of presbytery and dean of the Western North Carolina Division of the United Christian College. He served as president of the Georgia-Florida District 1984 -
1992, second vice president of the Western North Carolina District 1988 - 1992, and served three terms as president of the Western North Carolina District
1992-2004. Bishop Williams served as second vice president of the General Church 1992 - 1996. He served as vice president of General Church 1996 -
August 2005. In August 2005 he became the president of The United Holy Church of America. and was elected to his first full term in May 2008.
In addition to his church service, Bishop Williams has been a social studies teacher in both private and public schools. He taught middle school students at Palmer
Memorial Institute, Alamance County Public Schools, and Guilford County Public Schools. His teaching career spanned the years August 1969 - December
1981.
Bishop Williams is active in social and civic affairs. He served on the boards of several community organizations. His professional and civic affiliations include
organizations such as the Board of Directors of Rockingham Community College Foundation, Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, the Human Relations
Commission of Reidsville, the Board of Directors of the Free Clinic of Reidsville and Vicinity and the Ministerial Alliance of Reidsville and Vicinity. Throughout
the years he has received many plaques and letters of recognition. In 2001, Bishop Williams was honored for serving seven years on the Trustee Board of Annie
Penn Memorial Hospital where he served as chairman of the Ethics Committee. In September, 2001, the City of Reidsville presented him a Certificate of
Recognition for service to the community and church. Beginning January 1, 2005 Prince Street, the street on which Jerusalem United Holy Church is located was
renamed Prince Williams Street in honor of Bishop Williams. Overseer Brown and the Noah’s Ark Full Gospel Baptist Church presented him with the “Friends
of the Faith Award”, June 2005. In 2008 the Reidsville Branch of the NAACP awarded him the Martin Luther King, Jr. “Man of the Year Award” for
outstanding community service. Bishop Williams is a lifetime member of the NAACP.
Personal travel and travel with the United Holy Church of America has taken Bishop Williams across the United States of America, Bermuda, Mexico, the Holy
Land, South America, England, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Crete, the Caribbean Islands, and Africa.
Bishop Williams is married to a retired educator, the former Mamie O. Barnes of Baltimore, Maryland. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Dr. Hazel
E. Williams a pharmacist, Minister M. Charmaine Kelly (Robert), a speech/language pathologist and one son Elijah Lamont (Sophia), a Professional Engineer.
Robert and Charmaine have blessed them with two grandchildren, Danica and Robert Niegel. Lamont and Sophia have blessed them with two grandsons, Joshua
Lamont and Caleb Lamont. More important than their offspring’s personal and professional accomplishments, Bishop and Mrs. Williams are most thankful that
they are developing into mature Christians who are committed workers for God.
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