Bishop Elijah Williams was born in Maple Hill, North Carolina to the late Charlie and Martha P. Williams. He has one brother and 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 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 UHC, Siler City, NC 1962-1981. He became the
pastor of Jerusalem United Holy Church in 1981 and served until his pastoral retirement in June of 2008.
Bishop Williams has served the United Holy Church in all capacities. His positions 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
president of the United Holy Church of America when, due to the death of Bishop Odell McCollum, he became the General President. In May of 2008 he
was elected General President of the United Holy Church of America.


In addition to his church service, Bishop Williams has been a social studies teacher in both private and public schools. He is active in social and civic
affairs and serves on the board 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 where he serves as president. In June of 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. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP.


Personal travel and travel with the United Holy Church of America have taken Bishop Williams across the United States of America, Bermuda, Mexico,
the Holy Land, South America, England, France, the Caribbean Islands, Africa and Haiti.
Bishop Williams is married to a retired educator, the former Mamie O. Barnes of Baltimore, Maryland. Bishop and Mrs. Williams are the proud parents of
two daughters, Dr. Hazel E. Williams a pharmacist, Mrs. Charmaine Kelly (Robert), a speech and language pathologist and rehab manager and one son
Elijah Lamont (Sophia), a Professional Engineer. Robert and Charmaine have blessed Bishop and Mother Williams with two grandchildren Danica and
Robert Niegel. Lamont and Sophia have blessed them with a grandson, Joshua Lamont.
The Rt. Rev. Elijah Williams
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is
the power of God for the salvation of
everyone who believes: first for the Jew,
then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16
The Power Of the Gospel To Save In A World
Of Change
Our President