February 10, 2022 at 12:17 p.m.
O'rell Williams
O'rell Williams
O'rell was born in Jackson, Mississippi on May 3, 1943 to Sylvester and Minnie Lee (Laster) Williams. He was raised in Jackson, Mississippi and was a 1960 graduate of Lanier High School. He then attended Utica College in Mississippi for one year. He then joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the civil rights movement. This is where he organized marches and voter registration. O'rell was actively involved with CORE, Congress of Racial Equality. O'rell was very active in the civil rights movement and had a relationship with Medgar Evers and had attended the March on Washington. He moved to Milwaukee in the 1960s and has lived on and off in Rhinelander for the past 50 years. He met his future wife, Cheryl Johnson, in Rhinelander and they were married in Milwaukee on April 7, 1984. The couple have lived on Hancock Lake since 2004.
O'rell was an avid fisherman and absolutely loved fishing for muskies. He also enjoyed bowling, basketball, coaching basketball at Rhinelander Catholic Central and assisting Cheryl with fixing computers.
He will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Cheryl; children, Dr. O'Rell Ronald (Sarah) Williams and their children, Imogen and Ivy Williams of Milwaukee and Dr. Kelly Connor and children, Michael Connor and Mikaehla Connor of Texas; two brothers, Willie (Lee) Watkins of Milwaukee and Hezekiah (Christine) Watkins of Jackson, Mississippi. Also surviving are nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
At O'rell's request, there will be no visitation or service.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715-365-4343. Everyone is invited to sign the guestbook or leave an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com.
Comments:
You must login to comment.