London, Kentucky's Williams Family was recently placed on the "Wall of Honor" at Williamsburg's "Gospel Barn". It is an honor that I know my grandparents would be very proud and I honestly believe it would mean more to them than any other Hall of Fame, simply because, although in their prime they were certainly good enough, they never aspired to greatness for themselves. They sang for the common man and tried to win souls for Jesus. That's all. This is what will be placed on the Wall as their written legacy:
"The roots of the Williams Family performing gospel music pre-date World War II. With a Pentecostal preaching trail blazer for a father and a mother whose parents were among Laurel County's first Swiss settlers, it's documented that Pa Williams took his clan right along beside him to churches all across southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee. He'd preach and they'd sing at whatever the venue, churches, homecoming events, dinners on the grounds, and festivals, even in the children's pre-teen years.
Then, as a God fearing little mother fasted, as many as 21 days in a row, and prayed for both her eldest sons, Vic and Lee, to return home safely from the war, Vic's wife Jewell Faye, along with Williams sisters Jessie and Ruth (Gabbard), kept the gospel music flame alive as a trio.
With the safe return from Germany and Japan of Granny Williams' two "soldier boys" from active combat duty, Vic, Lee, Jewell Faye, and Jessie embarked upon a musical path that would carry on, even into the present day 21st century.
Heeding the call in the 1970s were Vic and Jewell Faye's two oldest children, C.A. and Connie. C.A. a gifted songwriter, wrote many great gospel songs. "Magnificent Jesus" has ministered to tens of thousands, by way of charting records by Rogersville, Tennessee's "Redeemed Quartet", and from Central Kentucky, Charles Mealing would put his own personal spin on such an annointedly crafted song. Connie, who was an heir to the convention style piano playing made famous by Howard Goodman, would help craft the melodies, and play piano for her family each time they stepped onto the stage or into a pulpit.
Vic Williams organized and hosted the gospel singing Sunday portion of Laurel county’s homecoming celebration for more than 30 years. Grandson Kip Jervis, along with his wife, Tammy, and sister Melissa Bundy, kept the tradition alive when the World Chicken Festival came to to town in 1990, organizing and hosting the gospel music portion of the WCF event for it's first 20 years, from it’s inception until 2009. In the early 2000s, new Williams talent began to take the stage as a fifth generation, including Jazlyn Jervis and Savannah Williams, began to hone their musical gifts.
Knoxville’s Reverend J Bazel Mull was a friend and fan, often calling on the Williams Family to sing at his concerts, where they sang on stages with the Rambo’s, The Hinsons, The Inspirations, Florida Boys, the Singing Cookes, and the Happy Goodmans, just to name a few.
The Williams Family have ministered to grieving families at well over a thousand funerals. Never in it for money or fame, but always and forever in it for ministry, The Williams Family were never about trying to get a reaction from the audience, yet through God's annointing they always did. Their goal was to touch hurting people with the good news that there is a brighter day ahead for us all, if we will just surrender and believe. A simple thought, maybe, but only Heaven has a record of the number of people who were moved by the humble and annointed musical legacy that is southern Kentucky's "Williams Family".