Dr. Laura Jerlene (Jerri) Williams was born April 17th, 1927 in Blytheville, Arkansas to Clarence and Mamie (Carr) Johns (both deceased). She went home to be with the Lord on March 17th at Four Seasons Residential Care in Independence, Oregon.
Jerri grew up in Texas surrounded by her brothers Henry, Willie, Odell and her sisters Tressie, “CJ”, Adell and Dottie. (Dottie is the only surviving sibling). Her early Christian life began at Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Paris, Texas. Jerri graduated from Gibbons High School in 1944 at the age of 16 years old. Her college degree was completed at Tyler College in Texas. Her masters and doctoral degrees were completed in colleges and universities in Oregon and Colorado where she earned a PH.D in Education and Counseling.
In 1945, Jerri married Vertis Alford Williams, Sr. (deceased). They were blessed with three children Vertis Jr., El Vaughn and Crucita. During their marriage, Jerri and Vertis were educators for the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs at several Indian Schools in (Texas, New Mexico and Arizona) until they transferred to Chemawa Indian School in 1957 here in Salem, Oregon. Jerri was the first black educator to be employed by the Salem-Keizer School District where she worked for 27 years until she retired in 1998. Three years ago, Jerri married Earl L. Strong II and remained married until her going home to be with the Lord.
Jerri’s philosophy for life, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Her hobbies were reading, dancing and traveling. Her ambition in life was to get a college education, to become a teacher and to become an education counselor to help the youth and their families. She had high respect for family morals and personal values. When asked how she would like to be remembered, “She would like to be remembered by her dedication to meeting the personal goals she chose for her life”. Jerri would always encourage people to “get a good education”, to hold your head up high and to love yourself and others.
Jerri leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Earl L. Strong II, (Portland, Ore.) two sons, Vertis Williams Jr. and wife Barbara (Richmond, TX.) El Vaughn Williams and wife Miriam (MN), daughter, Crucita White (Salem, Or.) five grand children, eleven great grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, one sister Dorothy (Rev. Curtis) Mitchell, (Lanham, MD), nephews, eight nieces, a host of great nephews and great nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends and a special devoted friend, Geri Coulter. Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Services.
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