Dr. Cecil Williamson, Jr.

Dr. Cecil Williamson, Jr. passed away January 27, 2023 at the age of 82. He was born May 15, 1940 to the late Walter Cecil Williamson, Sr. and Jane Owen Williamson.

A native of Lowndes County where he grew up on a farm and attended public schools, Dr. Williamson received a B.A. Degree in History from Auburn University and a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary.  He earned a doctorate summa cum laude in New Testament studies from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. A practicing attorney and member of the Alabama State Bar Association, he earned his J.D. from the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.

Upon his graduation from Columbia Seminary, Dr. Williamson came to Selma in June, 1965 as Pastor of Alabama Avenue Presbyterian Church.  In 1968, he led the congregation as it successfully built and relocated as Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church. In 1973, he was one of the founding pastors for the creation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).  Until his retirement from Crescent Hill in 2015, Dr. Williamson had been in the ministry over fifty years and until his death continued to serve the Lord as pastor of Valley Creek Presbyterian Church, the oldest Presbyterian church in Alabama.

Dr. Williamson taught Beginning Greek and Introductory Hebrew at the Birmingham Theological Seminary and Latin at Morgan Academy, where he served as assistant baseball coach. For thirteen years he was also a coach in the city’s baseball league.

Active in civic and community affairs, Dr. Williamson was a member of the Selma City Council for sixteen years and served as President of the Council from 2010-2012. He was twice elected to the Dallas County Board of Education and was a member of the Selma Exchange Club for more than fifty years where he served as local President three times and was a past member of the State Exchange Club Board of Directors.  He was the first President of the Friends of the Library, Chairman of the Selma Housing Authority for seven years, and Chairman of the Craig Airport and Industrial Authority. He also was a member of the Cahawba Advisory Committee, the Old Depot Board of Directors, Arts Revive, Selma-Dallas County Historical Preservation Society, the Vaughan-Smitherman Association, and Commander of Camp 62 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Dr. Williamson loved people, and his heart’s desire was that others might know Jesus Christ as their Savior. He was a loving and faithful husband, father and grandfather, a wise counselor, a loyal friend, and a selfless pastor who sought to faithfully shepherd all those who belonged to Christ and to share the gospel with all he encountered.

Cecil married the former Peggy Duke of Selma on September 17, 1966. Their family include: daughter, Kim McCown and her husband, Colin; a son, Brian and his wife, LaDayne; and he was preceded in death by his daughter Dr. Jennifer Stone (Russ). He is also survived by his sister Barbara (Dick) Pomarolli. The Williamsons have been blessed with seven grandchildren: Nick (Yvette) Stone and Emily Stone; Erin, Will, and Ben McCown; Laura Williamson and Amanda Williamson (Alex) Renn.  They also have two precious great-grandchildren, Evie Williamson and Foy Stone.

Funeral services will be Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Valley Creek Presbyterian Church with Rev. George McKee officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. The service will be live streamed online, via the funeral home's Facebook page at http://watchlawrence.live

Dr. Williamson will be laid to rest at a private service at Valley Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Samaritan's Purse; P. O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or online at www.samaritanspurse.org or to the Selma-Dallas County Public Library; 1103 Selma Avenue, Selma, AL 36701.