Obituary of Bernard Williams

Bernard Williams Jr. was a loving husband, father, and grandfather; a man of faith and a servant leader. He was born on the 28th day of January 1928 in Dallas, Texas to the parentage of Bernard Williams Sr. and Nellie Mae Mayes. Bernard was their only child. He attended Dallas Public Schools and was a 1945 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. He attended West Virginia State College in Institute, West Virginia, where he was initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated in the spring of 1950 and earned his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. It was there that he met the love of his life, Marguerite Reddick. Bernard served his country honorably, as a Lieutenant in the United States Army. Following his commission he and Marguerite were married in Savannah, Georgia on Christmas Day in 1952. To this union two daughters were born, Martha Nell and Susan Kay. He and Marguerite were happily married for 67 years. Bernard was indeed a trailblazer. He was one of the first black lab technicians in heart research in the cardiopulmonary lab at Southwestern Medical School, now UT Southwestern. He then went to Old St. Paul Hospital as a lab technician. Later, he became the first African American hired in Dallas by the IBM Corporation as a Systems Engineer in 1964. After a career in marketing management, he led the critical situation management global support center to troubleshoot computer system problems around the world. He retired from IBM in 1991. After a brief retirement, he worked in the office of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, District 30, for seven years. He was involved in civic philanthropy and community service through many channels. Bernard gave of his time and resources to support many organizations. He served as Polemarch of the Dallas Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, as well as Big Brothers Incorporated, The Moorland Branch YMCA, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, Pro-Duffers Golf Club fundraising, DART Citizens Advisory Committee, the LBJ Corridor Project, Aquarius Group, Robert Dedman Hospital volunteer, and served as a Senior Source board member. He was a faithful member of New Hope Baptist Church for over 50 years, where he served as chairman of the deacon board for 17 years, and later named deacon emeritus. Bernard was a great supporter of vacation bible school and served as a mentor to many youth within the church. Family was always at the center of his life. Driving them on leisure trips on summer vacations brought him much happiness. He was a spectator sports fan of football, baseball, and golf. The birth of both granddaughters added a new dimension of happiness. He was preceded in death by his parents. The celebration of his life and legacy continues with his wife, Marguerite Williams; daughters Martha Bedford (Louis III), Susan Williams McElroy; granddaughters Erica Chiles and father Don Chiles, Opal McElroy and father Daniel McElroy; sister-in-law Charlesetta Reddick Lacy, Brother-In-Law Thomas Reddick (Margaret); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.