Maurice Marquette Williams was born to the late Edgar John Williams and Cora B. Williams on April 14, 1944. Maurice was the fourteenth of sixteen children in Haskell, Oklahoma.

Maurice received his elementary education, first through fifth grade, in a one room building at Coal Creek School in rural Haskell, Oklahoma. He began his secondary education at the historical Booker T. Washington School in Haskell. In the seventh grade, he joined the New Farmers of America (NFA) under the instrumental guise of James Roy Johnson.  Through the NFA, Maurice acquired the art of speaking, animal judging, and other tidbits that contributed to his growth and matriculation. He also became a delegate to the NFA's National Convention, the Oklahoma State Vice President, and later State President.

Maurice was a prolific, aggressive, and competitive football player: fullback and defensive end was his specialty. He graduated BTW in 1962, and attended Langston University for a short period, then moved to Los Angeles, California, in August 1962. Where, one week later he joined the United States Army and attended basic training at the picturesque Fort Ord, California. Afterward, he attended Advance Infantry Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, then transition to Fort Benning, Georgia, for paratrooper school, where he became a long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP). LRRP's are trained to jump up to five hundred miles behind enemy lines to call in strikes or recon to provide intel on high-
valued enemy targets, and were expected to return to friendly forces with little to no help. Maurice completed in excess of fifty jumps.

Though Maurice last played football in 1962, he did not discover until 1972 that the University of Oklahoma sent him a "Letter of Intent for Scholarship" to play football. He would have been the first Negro athlete to receive a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. Who knows the possibilities if that information had been provided to Maurice in 1962?

Maurice attended several colleges: Delta College, Stockton, California; Reed Christian College and Western Theological Seminary, Los Angeles, California; and International Bible Institute and Seminary, Orlando, Florida, where he obtained his PhD. His professional career includes: tanker driver and aerospace quality control inspector. He wore many hats, as a son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, husband, father, friend, and pastor – the hat that came because of his calling. He first wore  this hat in Stockton, California, where he pastored Second Baptist Church for nine years, and lastly First Baptist Church-South (FBCS) for seventeen years. As pastor he envisioned building an edifice that would accommodate a large capacity fellowship to administer final rites, community support, and feed large crowds (Bar-b-que Friday). Glory be to God, FBCS congregation, community, family, friends, and other contributors made this vision a reality.

Preceding him in death were his parents, seven brothers, and six sisters.

Those left to cherish his memories are: wife, Marsha L. Williams; first wife, Jeanell; sons, Brandon, Cori, Marquiloh, Horace, Corey, Alan, and Denson; daughters, Tonya, Shantay, Kenyonna, Kadesha, and Markeysha; brothers, Dock (Gloria) Williams and Floyd (Beverly) Williams; twenty-four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two goddaughters; and a host of other relatives and friends.

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Dr. Maurice M. Williams, Retired Pastor Emeritus of the First Baptist Church-South in Beggs, Oklahoma,  after 78 seasons of life, "departed his earthly tabernacle to live in celestial habitation" on Friday evening, August 19, 2022 from His home in Beggs, with his loving wife and family to witness.

The Sacred Farewell to Dr. Williams will commence on Saturday afternoon, August 27, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the most holy sanctuary of the First Baptist Church-South, Beggs, Oklahoma.  Pastor Greg Lewis will Officiate and Dr. Floyd Williams, will deliver the Eulogy.

You may visit Dr. Williams, as he slumbers in peaceful repose in the Chapel of Peace of the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., in Okmulgee on Friday between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Dr. Williams will be cremated after the service and his ashes will be placed in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 10:00 AM.