WILLIAMSON, Dr. Samuel Payne 1887 - 1957

WILLIAMSON, POWELL, POLLY, MEDINA, BORORMAN

Posted By: Richard K. Thompson (email)
Date: 2/6/2011 at 18:46:29

Fairfield Daily Ledger
Wednesday Nov. 6, 1957
Pg. 1 Col. 1

Heart Attack Prove Fatal To Dr. S.P. WILLIAMSON, 70

Dr. S. P. WILLIAMSON (sic. Samuel Payne WILLIAMSON), 70, retired Fairfield minister, and civic leader, died suddenly today at 7:20 a.m. at the Jefferson County hospital.

Dr. WILLIAMSON, who had been in good health, was rushed to the hospital about 4 a.m., after he suffered a heart attack at his home south of the city a short time before.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Christian church with Dr. Loren Lair, Des Moines, state secretary of Christian churches, and the Rev. Donald Eagle officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery. The body is at the Hoskins Funeral home.

**Retired in 1956**

Dr. WILLIAMSON was one of Fairfield's best-known clergymen. He retired July 1, 1956 after serving as pastor of the First Christian church for 27 years. His ministry spanned nearly a half-century.

Dr. WILLIAMSON was born Jan. 25, 1887 at Wye, Kent, England, the son of Samuel and Amy Ann POWELL WILLIAMSON. He entered the ministry April 24, 1909 as a preacher for the Kent Mission of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Later the same year he migrated to Canada, serving as a Methodist "circuit rider" for two years.

In 1911 Dr. WILLIAMSON entered Drake university at Des Moines to prepare for the ministry in the Disciples of Christ church. As a student pastor, he served churches at Grand River, Ira, Meadow Grove and Washington Chapel.

**Rural Churches**

He later held full-time pastorates at Union Mills, Mount Ayr, Guthrie Center and Chillicothe, Mo. He became a naturalized citizen in 1923. He was called to the Fairfield First Christian church Sept. 1, 1929, succeeding the late Rev. R. H. POLLY.

Dr. WILLIAMSON was married to Helen BRAMMER Dec. 25, 1912 at Grand River. He is survived by his wife and three children: Mrs. Amy MEDINA, Highland Park, Ill.; S. R. WILLIAMSON (sic. Samuel Robert WILLIAMSON), Fairfield; and Capt. Henry WILLIAMSON, stationed with the U.S. Air Force at Omaha, Neb. Four grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Ada BORORMAN, Sussex, England, and a cousin, Estella WILLIAMSON, Fairfield, also survive.

Dr. WILLIAMSON probably performed more marriages and conducted more funerals than any other individual in the city's history. At the time of his 25th anniversary as pastor of the local church in 1954 he had added 1,035 new members and officiated at 653 weddings and 1,110 funerals.

**Many Activities**

He was a trustee of the School of Religion at the State University of Iowa and a former trustee of Drake university. He was also a member of the State Board of Christian Churches for 10 years, serving as chairman for three years.

Dr. WILLIAMSON was a member of the First Christian church, Fairfield, Masonic lodge, Order of Eastern Star, Shrine, Lions club and Wit and Wisdom club. He was a past president of the local Lions club and a past governor of Lions District 9-B. He held a B.A. degree and an honorary doctor's degree from Parsons college.

Dr. WILLIAMSON maintained an active interest in community affairs and headed many campaigns on behalf of the Boy Scouts, Red Cross and other groups. Following his retirement, he served as temporary pastor a Sedalia, Mo., for several months and was campaign director for the 1957 Fairfield United Fund.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa. 4th.119.