DATE: Sunday, September 21, 1997            TAG: 9709210022

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   29 lines

HURSELL C. WILLIAMS

Presiding Bishop Hursell C. Williams, leader of the Pentecostal Holiness Churches of America, departed this life Friday, Sept. 19, 1997, of multiple illnesses. He was 77 years old.

Bishop Williams retired in 1972 but retained his title as vice bishop, then bishop, of the Pentecostal Holiness Churches of America.

He departed his life at 12:03 a.m. in his home with loving family and friends in attendance. Williams was elected presiding bishop of the church in 1976 where Bishop M. Clark expired. For the past 21 years, Bishop Williams served as senior pastor of Copeland Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church, Portsmouth, St. James Pentecostal Holiness Church, Hobgood, N.C., and Everlasting, Washington, D.C.

He leaves to cherish his wife, Mom Mary; a daughter, Angela; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, all of Portsmouth.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in New Bethel Baptist Church by Bishop Early Gay. Burial will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, Suffolk. A wake service will be held Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Copeland Chapel, Portsmouth, Holiness Church, 2604 Ash St. Fisher Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ILLUSTRATION: Photo KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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