Individual Details
Dr. William Arthur "Will" Williamson M. D.
(October 27, 1870 - October 26, 1945)
"William Arthur Williamson was a very striking, big, handsome man. He decided he wanted to be a physician at about thirty years of age, graduated Valedictorian from Medical School at about thirty five years of age. He attended Medical School in Meridian, Mississippi and Alabama. In earlier years he owned water powered griss mills, was a farmer, and in the logging and timber business. He had lost some fingers while running a saw mill. He enjoyed free wrestling as a young man. Mr. Lacy Freeny, son of Luther Freeny, said Dr. Will was extremely generous to a fault. He gave away money, land holdings, and his professional services. Mr. Lacy also told me that he had enormous strength in his body, especially in the upper part. I can remember his plowing in the field, a very strong slow walk, almost as if each move were deliberate. Mr. Lacy said Dr. Will was an excellent farmer; in fact, could do anything he wanted to do. I can remember Dr. Will dressed in his black suit, bow tie, suspenders, white straw (hat) and cane! Could he strut! He could take that hat off in such a very splendid manner. I also remember when sick, as a child, he was holding me on his lap. It amazed me how powerfully large and yet how gentle his hands could be.
"Dr. Will, at one time, had large land holding. The Depression probably took a great toll on his financial security. In later years, Dr. Will drank excessively, at times. I am sure this was, in part, due to frustrations and grief over financial reversals and family strife. He had a wonderful wife, who I loved very deeply, but she was extremely strong-willed. Sherrill, I am sure, worried him, as well as other matters. Dr. Will carried his feeling, mostly inside. Some factual occurances in the life of Dr. Will: (1) Some men were in the process of hanging a Choctaw Indian, as Will rode by on his horse. On inquiry as to the proceedings, Will took the noose from the Indian's neck, told him to climb on one of the hangmen's horses, and sent him to Oklahoma. He threatened to kill anyone who tried to stop him. (2) Hid a Negro woman in the closet of his house and would not allow her to be tarred and feathered. (3) In full winter, Dr. Will swam a swollen creek (about 100 feet), delivered a baby, swam back across and delivered his wife's baby. (The babies: Ellis Stevens and Tommye Williamson.) (4) Rode a horse through a Feed Store in Jonesboro, Mississippi, and threatened to wreck the store if the owner did not release title to the property belonging to a man who had lost his wife and had eight children. He told the owner never to try to collect. Later the man prospered (3 or 4 years) and paid the debt in full without any prompting. William A. Williamson's last night on earth was spent at the house of this son, Charles D. Williamson. I loved Dr. Will; Dr. Will; you see, he was my Grandaddy." (William A. Williamson, Greenville, Mississippi, 30 December 1978.)
"Dr. W. A. Williamson being the attending Physician of most of Newton, Lauderdale, Kemper and Neshoba Counties, became very interested in the building of a church. He gegan talking and working among his many friends for the had a host of friends and was a very influencial man. Duffee Baptist Church was built during the depression of 1923 and 1924 with donations from anyone that could and felt like helping. ... Dr. Williamson and Rev. (W. H.) Rainer picked the spot that is so dear to all of us that are members of this church. ... it was known for a period of time as Doc's church." (HISTORY OF DUFFEE BAPTIST CHURCH written by church member in 1954.)
Information about the family of William Arthur Williamson was taken from the Williamson Family Bible, census records, grave markers, marriage records, and self knowledge, and was compiled by William A. Williamson, 239 S. Washington, Greenville, Mississippi 38701; phone: 601-332-6638; and Phyllis C. Williamson, 6801 Old Fort Bayou Road, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564.
"William A. Williamson and Laura Bell Freeny married 9 August 1904." (Neshoba County, Mississippi Marriage Book D, page 257.)
"Dr. Will, at one time, had large land holding. The Depression probably took a great toll on his financial security. In later years, Dr. Will drank excessively, at times. I am sure this was, in part, due to frustrations and grief over financial reversals and family strife. He had a wonderful wife, who I loved very deeply, but she was extremely strong-willed. Sherrill, I am sure, worried him, as well as other matters. Dr. Will carried his feeling, mostly inside. Some factual occurances in the life of Dr. Will: (1) Some men were in the process of hanging a Choctaw Indian, as Will rode by on his horse. On inquiry as to the proceedings, Will took the noose from the Indian's neck, told him to climb on one of the hangmen's horses, and sent him to Oklahoma. He threatened to kill anyone who tried to stop him. (2) Hid a Negro woman in the closet of his house and would not allow her to be tarred and feathered. (3) In full winter, Dr. Will swam a swollen creek (about 100 feet), delivered a baby, swam back across and delivered his wife's baby. (The babies: Ellis Stevens and Tommye Williamson.) (4) Rode a horse through a Feed Store in Jonesboro, Mississippi, and threatened to wreck the store if the owner did not release title to the property belonging to a man who had lost his wife and had eight children. He told the owner never to try to collect. Later the man prospered (3 or 4 years) and paid the debt in full without any prompting. William A. Williamson's last night on earth was spent at the house of this son, Charles D. Williamson. I loved Dr. Will; Dr. Will; you see, he was my Grandaddy." (William A. Williamson, Greenville, Mississippi, 30 December 1978.)
"Dr. W. A. Williamson being the attending Physician of most of Newton, Lauderdale, Kemper and Neshoba Counties, became very interested in the building of a church. He gegan talking and working among his many friends for the had a host of friends and was a very influencial man. Duffee Baptist Church was built during the depression of 1923 and 1924 with donations from anyone that could and felt like helping. ... Dr. Williamson and Rev. (W. H.) Rainer picked the spot that is so dear to all of us that are members of this church. ... it was known for a period of time as Doc's church." (HISTORY OF DUFFEE BAPTIST CHURCH written by church member in 1954.)
Information about the family of William Arthur Williamson was taken from the Williamson Family Bible, census records, grave markers, marriage records, and self knowledge, and was compiled by William A. Williamson, 239 S. Washington, Greenville, Mississippi 38701; phone: 601-332-6638; and Phyllis C. Williamson, 6801 Old Fort Bayou Road, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564.
"William A. Williamson and Laura Bell Freeny married 9 August 1904." (Neshoba County, Mississippi Marriage Book D, page 257.)
Events
| Birth | October 27, 1870 | near Day's Mill, Newton County, Mississippi | |||
| Marriage | August 9, 1904 | Neshoba County, Mississippi - Laura Bell Freeny | |||
| Death | October 26, 1945 | Duffee, Newton County, Mississippi | |||
| Burial | October 29, 1945 | Friendship Cemetery, west of Duffee, Newton County, Mississippi |
Families
| Spouse | Laura Bell Freeny (1886 - 1954) |
| Child | Donald Wadsworth Williamson (1907 - 1978) |
| Child | Charles Decosta Williamson (1909 - 1975) |
| Child | Lena Lucille Williamson (1913 - 1983) |
| Child | Willie Tommie Williamson (1915 - 1997) |
| Child | Joseph Sherrill Williamson (1923 - 1994) |
| Father | Charles Cagle Williamson (1842 - 1917) |
| Mother | Lucinda Brown (1845 - 1923) |
| Sibling | Joseph Randolph "Ran" Williamson (1868 - 1945) |
| Sibling | Charles Thomas Williamson (1873 - 1915) |