Kemp News
26 Sep 1957

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY DINNER

   Saturday the Becker Community Genty Club gave a surprise birthday dinner honoring Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Williams; his birthday being on Sept. 18th and hers on Sept. 25th.
   Mr. Williams was born at Rutherfordton, N. Carolina, Sept. 18, 1868.  Mrs. Williams was born in the Becker Community at their present home.
   Mr. Williams lost his parents when he was 1 1/2 years old and he, his three brothers and his sister were reared by relatives.  He came to Texas when he was 15 years old, living first with the Weaver Cotton family for three years; Mrs. Harriet Parrish for 3 years.  He bought the Hoffer farm (now the Marian Reed place) and lived there till 1911.  He was married to Miss Jessie Hoffer Aug. 14, 1910.  They moved to Kaufman for two years, and there, he and John Allen were in the cattle and market business.  In 1913 they bought the Hoffer farm, moved there in 1914 and have lived there since.  Mr. Williams has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for 55 years, was a school trustee for 35 years, and a director of the First National Bank in Kemp for 34 years.  He is still a director there.  He is still active and oversees his farm and cattle.

   Mrs. Williams attended Trinity University, then at Waxahachie, and Denton Normal College, which is now North Texas Teachers College.  She taught in Aqua Caliente, Mexico 1 year and at a school at Hoffer 1 year.  She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for 65 years and has been a Sunday School class teacher and pianist both at the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches.
   They have one sone and one daughter and four grandchildren.
   They have always give liberally to the Church, Community Center, and Club.
   Mr. Williams was present at the laying of the corner stone of the old Kaufman County Courthouse and was also present at the laying of the corner stone of the present courthouse.
   Among those present were Dr. H. W. Hoffer, Mrs. J. M. Reed, Mrs. W. A. McKinney, Mrs. Ada Becker, Mr. Marian Fox, Mr. Arthur Reid, Mr. Herman Duncan, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Callan, Mr. PRoss Huffmaster, Mrs. Jewel Cotton, Mrs. Ann Harris and Mr. N. W. de Vlaming, all of Kaufman; Mr. Don Hoffer, Mrs. Roland Tarpley, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rutledge of Dallas; Mrs. E. B. Shelton of Houston; Mrs. George Wright of Garland; and a host of friends from Kemp and Becker.
        Reported by Mrs. L. R. Gee