Erma Bishop Williams

Erma Williams née Bishop, age 88, passed away peacefully in her home on January 22, surrounded by family. She said she didn't want to be cremated because, “When Jesus comes to take me home, I don't want to waste time. I want to be all ready to go!”

Born in 1936, she came of age in the early days of the Civil Rights movement. Erma took people as they came - regardless of race, religion, or cultural background.

In fact, she was banned for life from the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi, because she stood up for a black man who wanted a tuna sandwich to go. She asked the server why he wouldn’t serve the man, and he let loose with the “n” word.

Without hesitation, she politely stated that she was extra hungry today and needed a tuna sandwich, to go. The server, who wasn’t having it, threw both Erma and the black man out, and he told Erma, “N-lovers are as bad as Ns - don’t you ever come back in this building again!”.

As Erma told the story, “I was naive - I didn’t realize that in the big cities they treated black people that way! They are people, just like the man behind the lunch counter. But he didn't have to worry because I had no interest in going back in there!”

Erma is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, Jim Williams; her brother, Lloyd “Buddy” Bishop; her children, Michael Williams and Susan Williams Burnham; and her grandchildren, James and Casey Williams, and Matt and Rhian Burnham, Tyler and Matthew Lampkin, and Chelsea Edwards.

A small, simple celebration of Erma’s life will be held with family and close friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Brainerd Chapel SDA church; contact Pastor Aaron Mills at 423-639-3872.