Cyndi Loza

Rufus Williams Sr.: 1928-2007

Rufus Williams Sr. was a quiet man and an ideal father.

Although he did not attend school after the 10th grade, Mr. Williams Sr. was an advocate of education and the opportunities it could bring. He saw this realized in the success of his own children, one of whom is Rufus Williams, president of the Chicago Board of Education.

“Education was always important in our house, which is why everyone moved to the level that we did,” Williams said.

Mr. Rufus Williams Sr. died Monday in his West Side home after a series of illnesses. He was 78.

Active Member of Church

He was described by his family as a devoted church-goer and solid provider.

“He made certain that the basic things we needed to have were always there,” Williams said.

Mr. Williams, born in 1928 in Rayville, La., moved to Chicago with his future wife, Dicye Williams, in the early 1950s. They married in 1951.

He was very active in his church. As a member of the Greater Garfield Park Missionary Baptist Church, now the Original Greater Garfield Missionary Baptist Church, for over 56 years, Mr. Williams Sr. served as deacon and trustee for the church.

He also founded its usher board.

Always had time for kids

Despite the demands of the church and his job at the Sun Chemical corporation — where he worked for 35 years until retiring in 1992 — daughter Carol Williams recalls her father always made time in-between obligations to play with his children. He taught them “cut-throat dominos,” she said.

Besides his son and daughter, survivors include another son, Leroy; two other daughters, Virginia Lewis and Delores Williams; and 11 grandchildren.

A visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Leaks and Sons Funeral Home, 7838 S. Cottage Grove. A wake will be Friday at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral at 11 a.m. at the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 2151 W. Washington Blvd.