Ossie and Arthur

Stewart Arthur was born on May 1, 1881 in Oconee County South Carolina.  In December 1901, he was joined in Holy matrimony to Ossie Benson, born September 16, 1884 and also from the same region.

 This union was blessed with 11 children:  Ruth, Ila, Alvin, Zetherine, Vera, Lyman, R.M., Aurelia, Edgar, Carrie and E.M., who only lived to be 1 years old.

During the following years after their marriage, which was considered the Depression era, times were hard.  Arthur and Ossie was able to feed their children from their productive land.  They had to learn to be resourceful in all aspects of their lives.   One instance that comes to mind is whenever they needed to travel a long distance they would carry their shoes in their hands until they arrived, in order to preserve the shoes. 

The entire family belonged to the Tugaloo Baptist Church.  Arthur was a wise man.  He knew the Bible so well that he could listen to the Pastors sermon without looking in his Bible.  And if the Pastor did not get the Scripture right, (crossing ever T, doting every I) according to the Bible, "PA" would wait after service and let the Pastor know where he went wrong. 

In this region during the late 1800's- early 1900's, schools for blacks was limited.  Black children were only allowed to study up to the 5th grade.  Arthur surpassed that and gained an 8th grade education.  This was exceptional for the times.  Arthur was also very talented, he was an accomplished self taught musician with a hearty laugh.  (anyone in the family you know of that inherited these traits?). 

In 1922 Arthur traveled to Pittsburgh, PA., to work in a glass factory.  Although he was in Pittsburgh, he knew his obligations were in South Carolina.  On a regular basis he sent money home to Ossie. 

 In 1932 F.D.R. enacted one of the largest New Deal Agencies of the great depression, the WPA (The Work Progress Admin).  This agency was the largest employer of Americans including Blacks. The WPA employed at that time over 8 1/2 million people.  The WPA would categorize all working/ talented persons for appropriate jobs.  Also established out of the the great depression was Social Security.

Arthur, who was categorized by the WPA as a  farmer who taught music.   This enabled him to collect benefits from the WPA and Social Security. 

During the times of the Great Depression, farming for personal gain was not allowed, Families including that of Ossie and Arthur could only grow enough food to feed their immediate family.  Anything farmed over what was either plowed up or taken away.  In turn Ossie and Arthur was paid an allotment not to work the farm. During the early 1940's most of their children had migrated to the Washington, DC area, which did not leave them with an adequate amount of food to feed the rest of the family, this was not enough for Ossie and Arthur to survive. Their children which had moved to the DC area, rallied together and convinced their parents to move North.

Moving to DC was a very exciting experience for them.  The children were prospering, the grandchildren were growing, while driving North the scenery changed from country to city, and finally, indoor plumbing.  How exciting!

Ossie Benson Williams, loved her family.  One thing she insisted on was family gatherings.  There was never a time when a family gathering was not welcomed in their new home at 4922 Dean Avenue, NE. Washington, DC.  During this time, family gospel singing groups including The Service Gospel Singers and the Bright Star Quartet were formed. 

Ossie was a wonderful mother.  She loved her children and was very proud of all of them.  It was her pray that they all love God and succeeded in life.  When Ila died she left behind a husband and two small children.  Toby and Charles Brown.  Ossie and Arthur took the children and raised them as their own, she also raised Ruth's son Nathaniel, allowing Ruth the opportunity to pursue her education and a career in nursing.  

 Ossie was also a medicinally talented woman.  She could cure just about anything with Castor Oil, turpentine and a feather.  These were just a few of the tools that she used to keep her family healthy.  

Ossie was present at several of her grandchildren's birth.  It is even believed that she delivered some of hem herself.  Ossie had a saying that would span for generations "Keep your hands in Gods hand and life will never fail you."

Ossie and Arthur were very close.  They loved together, prayed together and enjoyed their family together.  One thing that they agreed on was teaching their family many life's skills.  

In January 1950 Arthur was very ill with Cancer.  The entire family was expecting him to pass at any time.  Instead, Ossie suddenly passed away.  This rocked the family to it's core.  At that time the very Spirit of the Williams family had been shattered.  In December 1950, Arthur passed away.  

Through the generations and what they instilled into their children, The Love of God, The Love of Life and the The Love of Family, you can see, in Spirit, that they still remain close.....