Allison Flint Williams

Allison Flint Williams, Minister Emeritus of Atlanta’s Trinity Presbyterian Church died December 13, 2014.
A native of Atlanta, Allison was born February 27, 1923, the son of Livesey Earle and Julia Flint Williams. He attended Rock Springs Elementary, O’Kee Middle School and Atlanta Boys’ High School, receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004. After graduating with a BA degree from Emory University where he was president of the SAE fraternity, Allison received postgraduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary M.Div., and Union Theological Seminary Th.M. in Richmond, VA. He received an honorary D.D. degree from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC and an honorary LHD degree from Hastings College in Hastings, NE. Allison completed special graduate study at the Institute of Pastoral Care at the Massachusetts General Hospital. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy and was commissioned Lt. jg Chaplain in the USNR. From 1947-1949 he was school pastor and faculty member of the School of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, MO. During that time he was Moderator of the Lafayette Presbytery. Allison was called to be the founding minister of Atlanta’s Trinity Presbyterian Church in 1949, where he served as Senior Minister for forty years. During those forty years Trinity established a reputation of working for unity and inclusion while respecting diversity of opinions and beliefs. He was named one of Atlanta’s 100 most influential young men in 1950. Allison’s pursuit of knowledge continued as he participated as a Tower Scholar at Union Seminary, in the Graduate Ethics Seminar at Union Seminary, in the Presbyterian Institute of Industrial Relations, in the Ecumenical Institute at Chateau de Bossey, Celigny, Switzerland, in a study tour of NATO capitals, in the White House Leadership Conference, and in the Aspen Institute Executive Seminar. Allison provided leadership in the establishment of Trinity School where he remained on the Board until his death, and in the establishment of Northwest Presbyterian Church and other Protestant churches. He served as Moderator of Atlanta Presbytery and served in various capacities in the Atlanta Presbytery, the Synod of Georgia, the General Assembly Committee of the Presbyterian Church, and the Greater Atlanta Council of Churches. Among his involvement in community affairs, he was a founding Trustee/Director of Annandale at Suwanee, Good Government Atlanta, the Georgia Association of Pastoral Care now known as The Care and Counseling Center of Georgia, and the George West Mental Health Foundation-Skyland Trail. He was an Emeritus Trustee of The Westminster Schools, and served as Trustee of the Family Service Society, the Community Council of Atlanta, the Georgia Conservancy, the Council for International Visitors, Rabun-Gap Nacoochee School, and the Board of Visitors of the Interdenominational Theological Center where he received the Outstanding Service Award in 1990. Allison was one of eighty signers of the Manifesto on Racial Beliefs in 1957. He was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in 2007. He was a delegate to the Atlanta United Way, was on the advisory board for Hospice of the South, and participated in the Atlanta Bar Association Committee on Family Law. After his retirement in 1989, he enjoyed his association as a volunteer and trustee with the John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable Foundation. Allison’s appreciation of the importance of childhood was evident in his ever-filled pockets of balloons and candy, his trips to Blood Mountain with the ROMG and Bare Bear trips. A voracious reader, his varied interests included music, tennis, swimming, fishing, traveling, mountain hiking and philosophizing with young and old. His greatest joy was his five grandchildren. The love and antics he shared with them brought much happiness and laughter! All who knew and loved Allison will remember him for his penetrating wit, strong convictions, and prodding leadership. A portion of a poem dedicated to Allison at Trinity School reads: “as man walks through the sands of time, patterns remain behind. Long after his presence ceases to be, that which is real and good lives on. A man who stands for integrity and strength, A man who is loved and admired, A man who knows how to give and receive, A man who is a guiding light, a founding father.”
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Josephine Culp Williams, his children, Hadyn Williams Culbertson Mike, Brice Barnes Williams Anne, grandchildren, Tyler Hudgins, Allyson Hudgins, Hayes Culbertson, Mac Williams and Hayden Williams, sister, Elizabeth Williams Henry, niece Margaret Dugan, nephew Chip Henry Mary, great niece Julia Rooks and great nephews Will Rooks Mareasa, Robert Henry and Liam Henry. The family is extremely grateful for the compassionate care given him by Michelle Cooper.
The memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 2:00 pm followed by a reception in Williams Hall. Remembrances may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church Trust Fund, 3003 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30327, the Trinity School Allison Williams Scholarship Fund, 4301 Northside Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30327, or to the George West Mental Health Foundation-Skyland Trail Allison Williams Financial Aid Fund, 1961 North Druid Hill Road, Atlanta, GA 30329.