Georgia I. Williams

Evangelist Georgia Igusta McDonald-Williams was born December 28, 1914, to the parents of Henry and Georgiana McDonald in Louisville, Mississippi (Winston County).  She was the eighth of thirteen children.  She attended the Bethel School System in Winston County, Mississippi.

In 1937, she relocated to Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, Cornelius Saviour, and three children, Willie Frank, Aaron, and Iretha.   Georgia met and married Elmo Coats in 1946, and to this union one son was born, Leroy S. Coats (Abdulbasir Abdussabur ).

Georgia had an extremely strong work ethic and attended Irma Lee Beauty School.  She became an entrepreneur, she and her son Aaron opened Savoy Beauty and Barber Lounge in the 1960s.   Throughout her life she pursued various job opportunities thereby, retiring from Cuyahoga County in 1987.

Georgia Igusta, was affectionately called, “Mother”, “Granny”, “Sister”, “Aunt Georgia”, “Cousin”, “G.A.”, Pastor, Evangelist and friend.  Her life was filled with love for family, travel, fashion, laughter and fun.  Although the most important accomplishment in her life was her love for Jesus Christ thereby, accepting her calling into ministry.  She founded and pastored New Jerusalem Pentecostal Church for numerous years, later she united with Emanuel Christian Center under the pastorship of Elder  W.J. Marbury. Evangelist Williams was often called upon  for prayer by family and friends and her response would be; what are you believing God to do in your life regarding your situation? Her faith and testimony was confirmed “ all things are possible if you only believe”.  One of her favorite songs was “without God I could do nothing without Him I would fail”.

Evangelist Williams enjoyed numerous accolades throughout her life.  Faithfully, she exemplified the affirmation: No Aches, No Pains, No Pills, and No Rubs.  We praise God for her life and for 105 years; 1,268 months; 38,040 days; 304,320 hours and 18,259,200 (million) minutes of her life.  That longevity was truly a blessing from God.

Evangelist Williams impacted numerous believers/non-believers lives throughout 105 years and her empowered faith in God allowed her to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ  Jesus”-Philippians 3:17).  One of her many questions would be where will you spend eternity?

In the words of the Apostle Paul, “to be absent from the physical body, is to be present with the Lord”.  On Thursday, October 22, 2020, God dispatched His angels to escort his daughter, Evangelist Georgia Igusta McDonald-Williams to join the heavenly angels and that great cloud of witnesses into His arms. Waiting for her arrival in heaven was her children Willie Frank, Iretha, parents, Henry and Georgiana; grandson, Allen; sisters, Estelle, Nancy, Lonnie, Carrie Bee, Martha, Inez, Ozola, Mildred, Ruby, and brothers, Henry and Lewis.

Her loving family will sincerely endure the loss; sons, Aaron Saviour, Leroy Coats (Abdulbasir Abdussabur); beloved granddaughters,  Akiba McAlister, Linda Coats; grandsons, Anthony Ruffin, Terrance Saviour (Patrica), Lawrence Cush; 11 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great grandchildren; brother, Major Jewel McDonald (Brenda); two beloved nieces, China Washington, and Shynetta Thompson; and additional nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. The Williams family acknowledges that death is not the end, but its the beginning of a blessed life with Jesus Christ.