The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA) - 31 May 1985
Thelma E. Williams, congressional aide, assistant to chaplain
Miss Thelma E. Williams, a Georgia native who was a fixture on the political scene in Washington, D.C., for more than a half-century, died of lung cancer Thursday at her home in Alexandria, Va. She was 91. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Building in Washington. Another memorial service will be later in Byron, Ga. Miss Williams "went to Washington in 1917 and promised her father she would only stay one year, but ended up staying for more than 50 years." according to Rep. Richard B. Ray of Perry. Miss Williams worked for three congressmen, William W. Larsen, Bryant T. Castellaw and Carl Vinson, and two Senate chaplains, Dr. Frederick Brown Harris and Dr. Edward L. R. Elson, from 1917 to 1969. She was hailed in the Congressional Record in April 1983 as "an example o outstanding professionalism that exists among staff members on Capitol Hill." Thelma Estelle Williams was born March 31, 1894, in Montezuma and grew up in Byron. She attended Wesleyan College and the now-defunct Georgia-Alabama Business College, both in Macon. The president of Georgia-Alabama Business College was asked by Rep. Larsen to recommend someone to become the congressman's sole staff member, and the school president recommended Miss Williams. She was a staff of one; comgressmen now are permitted 18 full-time and three part-time employees, a spokesman said. Miss Williams later worked for Rep. Castellaw, was a legislative researcher for the Justice Department, worked for the House Naval Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Vinson, and retired in 1957. However, she returned to work as secretary to the Senate chaplain and was the first woman to assist a congressional chaplain, according to a spokesperson for Rep. Ray. Miss Williams retired a second time in 1969. Since then she has been active in Washington area civic clubs. She was chaplain of the Pilot Club, a women's humanitarian group. She was the club's "pilot of the year" in 1980 and it published a book of hers called "Pilot Prayers." She also belonged to the Women's National Democratic Club and Wesleyan College alumni. Surviving are nieces and nephews.
Thelma E. Williams, congressional aide, assistant to chaplain
Miss Thelma E. Williams, a Georgia native who was a fixture on the political scene in Washington, D.C., for more than a half-century, died of lung cancer Thursday at her home in Alexandria, Va. She was 91. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Building in Washington. Another memorial service will be later in Byron, Ga. Miss Williams "went to Washington in 1917 and promised her father she would only stay one year, but ended up staying for more than 50 years." according to Rep. Richard B. Ray of Perry. Miss Williams worked for three congressmen, William W. Larsen, Bryant T. Castellaw and Carl Vinson, and two Senate chaplains, Dr. Frederick Brown Harris and Dr. Edward L. R. Elson, from 1917 to 1969. She was hailed in the Congressional Record in April 1983 as "an example o outstanding professionalism that exists among staff members on Capitol Hill." Thelma Estelle Williams was born March 31, 1894, in Montezuma and grew up in Byron. She attended Wesleyan College and the now-defunct Georgia-Alabama Business College, both in Macon. The president of Georgia-Alabama Business College was asked by Rep. Larsen to recommend someone to become the congressman's sole staff member, and the school president recommended Miss Williams. She was a staff of one; comgressmen now are permitted 18 full-time and three part-time employees, a spokesman said. Miss Williams later worked for Rep. Castellaw, was a legislative researcher for the Justice Department, worked for the House Naval Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Vinson, and retired in 1957. However, she returned to work as secretary to the Senate chaplain and was the first woman to assist a congressional chaplain, according to a spokesperson for Rep. Ray. Miss Williams retired a second time in 1969. Since then she has been active in Washington area civic clubs. She was chaplain of the Pilot Club, a women's humanitarian group. She was the club's "pilot of the year" in 1980 and it published a book of hers called "Pilot Prayers." She also belonged to the Women's National Democratic Club and Wesleyan College alumni. Surviving are nieces and nephews.
The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA) - 31 May 1985
Thelma E. Williams, congressional aide, assistant to chaplain
Miss Thelma E. Williams, a Georgia native who was a fixture on the political scene in Washington, D.C., for more than a half-century, died of lung cancer Thursday at her home in Alexandria, Va. She was 91. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Building in Washington. Another memorial service will be later in Byron, Ga. Miss Williams "went to Washington in 1917 and promised her father she would only stay one year, but ended up staying for more than 50 years." according to Rep. Richard B. Ray of Perry. Miss Williams worked for three congressmen, William W. Larsen, Bryant T. Castellaw and Carl Vinson, and two Senate chaplains, Dr. Frederick Brown Harris and Dr. Edward L. R. Elson, from 1917 to 1969. She was hailed in the Congressional Record in April 1983 as "an example o outstanding professionalism that exists among staff members on Capitol Hill." Thelma Estelle Williams was born March 31, 1894, in Montezuma and grew up in Byron. She attended Wesleyan College and the now-defunct Georgia-Alabama Business College, both in Macon. The president of Georgia-Alabama Business College was asked by Rep. Larsen to recommend someone to become the congressman's sole staff member, and the school president recommended Miss Williams. She was a staff of one; comgressmen now are permitted 18 full-time and three part-time employees, a spokesman said. Miss Williams later worked for Rep. Castellaw, was a legislative researcher for the Justice Department, worked for the House Naval Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Vinson, and retired in 1957. However, she returned to work as secretary to the Senate chaplain and was the first woman to assist a congressional chaplain, according to a spokesperson for Rep. Ray. Miss Williams retired a second time in 1969. Since then she has been active in Washington area civic clubs. She was chaplain of the Pilot Club, a women's humanitarian group. She was the club's "pilot of the year" in 1980 and it published a book of hers called "Pilot Prayers." She also belonged to the Women's National Democratic Club and Wesleyan College alumni. Surviving are nieces and nephews.
Thelma E. Williams, congressional aide, assistant to chaplain
Miss Thelma E. Williams, a Georgia native who was a fixture on the political scene in Washington, D.C., for more than a half-century, died of lung cancer Thursday at her home in Alexandria, Va. She was 91. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Building in Washington. Another memorial service will be later in Byron, Ga. Miss Williams "went to Washington in 1917 and promised her father she would only stay one year, but ended up staying for more than 50 years." according to Rep. Richard B. Ray of Perry. Miss Williams worked for three congressmen, William W. Larsen, Bryant T. Castellaw and Carl Vinson, and two Senate chaplains, Dr. Frederick Brown Harris and Dr. Edward L. R. Elson, from 1917 to 1969. She was hailed in the Congressional Record in April 1983 as "an example o outstanding professionalism that exists among staff members on Capitol Hill." Thelma Estelle Williams was born March 31, 1894, in Montezuma and grew up in Byron. She attended Wesleyan College and the now-defunct Georgia-Alabama Business College, both in Macon. The president of Georgia-Alabama Business College was asked by Rep. Larsen to recommend someone to become the congressman's sole staff member, and the school president recommended Miss Williams. She was a staff of one; comgressmen now are permitted 18 full-time and three part-time employees, a spokesman said. Miss Williams later worked for Rep. Castellaw, was a legislative researcher for the Justice Department, worked for the House Naval Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Vinson, and retired in 1957. However, she returned to work as secretary to the Senate chaplain and was the first woman to assist a congressional chaplain, according to a spokesperson for Rep. Ray. Miss Williams retired a second time in 1969. Since then she has been active in Washington area civic clubs. She was chaplain of the Pilot Club, a women's humanitarian group. She was the club's "pilot of the year" in 1980 and it published a book of hers called "Pilot Prayers." She also belonged to the Women's National Democratic Club and Wesleyan College alumni. Surviving are nieces and nephews.
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