Uncrowned Community Builders

Mrs. Sallona Williamson came to Niagara Falls in 1927 from Macon, Georgia along with her husband Joseph Sr., and their family of 3 children, Lucille, Ted and Joseph Jr.

They soon affiliated themselves with the Trinity Baptist Church. There she and her husband worked diligently fulfilling their Christian duty.

In 1937 Mrs. Williamson along with her husband and several other Christian believers, set out to organize another church. With a lot of prayer, strong Christian work and fellowship, the church was incorporated on April 2, 1937. It was named New Hope Baptist Church, located on MacKenna Avenue. It was just a little larger then a 2 car garage, but on Sundays there were old fashion church meetings, "Just like back home in Georgia" Mrs. Williams was heard to remark on different occasions.

She was a member of the Senior Choir for several years until she felt she should retire before she was asked to retire. She felt her voice was going up when it should have been a coup of octaves lower along with the other choir members (better known as off key).

In 1950 she was appointed to the Deaconess Board, where she was one of the oldest active members. She was a member of the Board of Missions visiting the sick and poor, performing whatever Christian duty she could to make them comfortable. She is a past President of the Bethune Ladies Fellowship Group.

She was also active in many community activities which included the Niagara Community Center. She helped to organize many fund raisers, sold dinners and had bake sales to raise money to build a larger building. This building is now located on Center Avenue and was renamed the Niagara Community Center and Girls Club.

Mrs. Williamson, the mother of 8 children believed in using the rod whenever needed. She brought them up in a Christian home with Sunday School, Church, Choir and BYPU, better known as Baptist Young Peoples Union which was the training ground for the young in the Baptist Church.

She also has 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

I remember so well the story told by one of her daughters -
Whenever we went out on Saturday night, like most young people will do, and stay past our parents curfew, mama would have no pita. She would stand in the hall bright and early Sunday morning and say very loudly for all sleeping ears to hear, "It's 8 o'clock, get up, and get ready for Sunday School. You knew when you left the house what time you had to be back, so get up, NOW! Of course dad was there to back her up. He would only say it once. "Did you hear what your mama said" and we would hit the floor like good Sunday School scholars they were training us to be.

Mr. Williamson passed away on July 15, 1974. He and Mrs. Williamson worked side by side in the church and raised their children in a good Christian home teaching and showing them how to love God and each other. One of her children shared with ma a family motto, "common sense is not a common thing" but a gift from God where all your faith and trust should be.

When one of her children or a friend would have a problem and came to her for advice, her final word would be, pray, take it to God, He'll take care of it.

Mrs. Williamson was a Christian woman on the Deaconess Board and in her everyday life style. Her light has shown and is still shinning.