Obituary of Herbert Charles Williams

Mr. Deacon Herbert Charles Williams (aka Herb Charles)

Our beloved Herbert Charles Williams peacefully passed April 21, 2025 around 4am. Herbert was a kind-hearted friend, neighbor, and loving patriarch of his family. He enjoyed basketball, chess, shopping, had impeccable style, and was an amazing cook. We will remember his generosity, warmth, and humor.
Herbert Charles Williams was born on November 9, 1954 to the late Sim and Ozie B. Maloy Williams in Saginaw, MI. He graduated from Saginaw High School, class of 1972. After high school Herbert attended Specs Howard School of Media Arts to begin his career in radio broadcasting. Herb worked many jobs, including at Dow Corning, where he won the Martin Luther King Jr. Award in 2002, but his passion was music. He was one of the founding members of W3-Soul, which would later become Power 107.1 WTLZ. He hosted “The Slow Jam Program” and “The Groove” under the name Herb Charles. He later went on to start his own business as a DJ for hire at special events.
Herb loved The Lord and was a member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. In his later years, Herb’s church home became Jacob’s Ladder Ministries, where his longtime friend, Bishop Dempsey Allen, was church leader. Herb wore many hats at the church including DJ, deacon, and security.
Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Sim Williams Sr. and Ozie B. Maloy Williams; brothers Robert Williams, Sim Williams Jr., and Ozzie Williams-Maloy; brother in-law, Alonzo Wrenn III, sisters; Barbara A. Williams-Wrenn, Beverly C. Williams-Holmes, Annie P. Swilley-Arnold; sister in-law, Wilma Hunter-Williams; and bonus siblings, Joe Calhoun, and Tanya Vaughan.
He is survived by one daughter, Elise Joan Williams; one son, Nickolas Charles Williams; former wife and mother of his children, Ann Turpin Williams; one sister Joanie K. Williams; a dear niece, Minister Courtney Wrenn; dear nephews Carl Williams, Corey Williams;  sister In-Law, Pamela Brown-Maloy; bonus siblings; James Vaughn, Dante (Sherry) Toussaint, Kermit (Glenda) Crockett, Bishop Dempsey Allen, Liz Dugan, Kelly Calhoun, and many other relatives and friends.

A Memorial service will be held at Jacob’s Ladder Ministries, 1926 Fairfield Street, Saginaw, MI on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 12pm.  To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.