ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The Albany community is mourning the loss of Bishop Frederick Williams Sr., a spiritual leader, community advocate and founder of the Stop the Violence initiative in the Good Life City. Williams passed away Tuesday morning, Jan. 20, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service and commitment to peace that shaped generations across Dougherty County.

Those who knew Bishop Williams say his leadership extended far beyond the church. After the killing of his sister, Williams chose action over despair—co-founding Stop the Violence, a community-based initiative aimed at preventing crime, restoring hope and addressing the root causes of violence in Albany.

Superior Court Judge Victoria Johnson, who knew Bishop Williams personally and served alongside him, says his impact was felt in many ways.

“He was a pastor, a singer, a musician— He played the piano, he was a counselor,” Johnson said. “There were so many different hats he wore across the community.”

For decades, Bishop Williams served as Bishop of Gethsemane Church, mentoring families and providing spiritual guidance. His mission also extended into everyday spaces, including the Albany Christian Bookstore, which he used as a platform to uplift local authors, support small businesses and encourage young minds.

Bookstore employee Ernestine Whittaker says Bishop Williams’ support went beyond business; it was deeply personal.

“I had seven strokes, and he was there for me,” Whittaker said. “Through his prayer, he and his wife and my church family, I’m here today. It seems hard right now, and it is. We all took a loss. But God makes no mistakes. His vision lives at Albany Christian Books, and we’re going to keep his legacy going.”

Bishop Williams believed that legacy is built on action, community members said. He opened a Christian bookstore in order to create a space to support local authors, encourage entrepreneurs and invest in the community that he loved.

For Bishop Williams, service was never about filling a gap. It was about answering a calling and planting a seed in the lives of those around him. Bishop Williams didn’t just recognize problems, he became the solution.

“He lived the life he talked about. He lived the life he preached about,” Williams’ daughter, Dr. Lawanna Johnson, said. “He was a true shepherd. He was a teacher of the Word. He was a preacher of the Word, but he was also a singer of the Word of God.”

Community members say Bishop Williams’ life work reflects a belief that faith must be lived out through service, meeting people where they are and lifting them up in times of need.

“When you think in terms of what Bishop Williams started with and what he has become— That’s legacy," Bishop Victor Powell explained. “In our region, his legacy, his name, his greatness will live on. That’s when you know greatness has walked amongst you.”

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