Archie Lee Williams Sr.

On August 11, 1950, in Hollandale, Mississippi the late Robert and Maggie Williams welcomed their youngest son, Archie Lee Williams, into the world. He was educated in the Greenville School System. Being the baby boy was a position in the family he enjoyed. His older siblings showered him with love and affection, and the bond between them all extended through his entire life. At the early age of 17, with two children to take care of, he ventured out into the world. He found his niche in door-to-door sales.

In the early 80s, he settled his family in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He was a trustee at The Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for more than 20 years. 

He flourished in the door-to-door sales business and became the self-proclaimed “Michael Jordan” of the business. Together with his late wife and business partner Wilhelmina Williams, A&W Enterprises came to fruition. The employees (the crew) became part of his family. In the early 2000s he formulated his own cleaning product called “Personal Touch and Personal Touch Enterprises” became the new business.

Archie would often bring his siblings and children out on the road to enjoy the holidays with the crew. He would do that so that he could take care of business and still enjoy his family during the holidays. He wanted his children to see how hard he worked to provide for them, and he wanted his siblings to be proud of him. He was a very involved father and grandfather. Whenever they had school or life events, he did everything in his power not to miss anything.

In his downtime, he loved to attend live concerts, comedy shows, and sporting events were his favorite. He loved to listen to blues and R&B music. He loved boxing, football, and basketball. In his eyes, he was the best basketball player on the crew. He was proud to tell anyone he could hang in there with “them youngsters.” He enjoyed playing dominoes, bid whist, and spades with his family. At any given time, you could hear him and his nephew, Chris Watford, slamming bones and talking trash. 

After his retirement, he spent time watching game shows, court tv, plenty of movies, and sports. He continued to travel throughout the country visiting family and friends and was still able to continue to attend his grandsons’ football games. 

Archie was a man of great faith. He loved God and always made sure when he talked to anyone they knew he loved God. He always greeted you with his big smile that could light up a room. For the ladies, he greeted you with, “Hey daulin,” and for the gentleman, he would greet you with a, “Hey young man,” and a firm handshake. He would bid you goodbye with, “God bless your heart and keep your head up.” Anyone who met Archie Lee Williams, Sr., always remembered him. They remembered his charm, his smile, the wisdom he shared, and most of all they remembered he loved God.

Archie was preceded in going to glory by his parents, the late Robert and Maggie Williams; his son, Reginald Williams; sisters, Louise (Willie) Washington and Rose (Henry) Mitchell; nephews, Archie Terrel Williams and Henry Sanford; and nieces, Cassandra Wright and LaShonda Washington. 

Archie leaves a great legacy of memories of his great life with his family: children and grandchildren, Darren Jones and his children, Geraldo “Red” White, Tyneka Weathersby, Joctavius Matthews, Syrus Matthews, and Eran Matthews; his daughter, Margaret (Keith) Gainer and her children, Terry Carpenter, Erica (Antonio) Coleman, and Ketriana Gainer; his son, Archie Lee Williams, Jr., and his children, Archie “Tre” Lee Williams III and Nautiah Kelly; Tammy Smith and her children, Cashmere Davis, Sydney Cunningham, and Julian Smith; the late Reginald Williams’ daughter, Adrianna Hayes; Maggie (Fiancé Shaun) Williams and her children, Quanisha Washington, TreJon Williams, and Destin “Isaiah” Franklin; Archie LeSean Williams, and his children, QyrRah Williams and Ebony Williams; and youngest son, Archie Sr., Jovan Robinson; his siblings, Robert (Betty) Williams, Sr., Bertha Hunter, and James (Marketa) Williams, who will miss him greatly.

Archie Sr. has created a legacy of love and support with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and two godsons, Jerome Lewis and Melvin Green.

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