Rev. Saul Williams Way Honors Legacy of Pastor

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

NEWBURGH – Neither rain nor an approaching nor’easter could stop family, friends, clergy, elected officials, and members of Baptist Temple Church from gathering Saturday, September 26th, to honor the legacy of its founding pastor, Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams, with the naming of Rev. Saul Williams Way. With rain threatening to interrupt the outdoor portion of the ceremony, current pastor Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs, who served as emcee, wasted no time getting the historic unveiling underway at the corner of Ann and William Streets.
“It’s a part of the program inside, but we’re just trying to beat the rain and the storm,” said Rev. Dr. Newkirk-Briggs. “But we’re so honored that you were able to come today.”

Pastor Newkirk-Briggs thanked City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey and Superintendent of Public Works Chad Wade for helping make the street designation possible.

“I thank the mayor and Chad Wade for initiating [this]…We want to make this corner historic and a blessing to this city,” she said.

With the crowd gathered around, Pastor Newkirk-Briggs led the countdown—“One, two, three!”—and Wade unveiled the new Rev. Saul Williams Way sign. Additional signs bearing Rev. Dr. Williams’ name were placed at William Street and Broadway. Members of the founding Williams family traveled from North Carolina for the historic occasion, including Rev. Dr. Williams’ wife, Juanita Sealy-Williams, daughters Joelle Williams and Juliette Williams Pryor, and son-in-law Walter Pryor. After a few photographs of the family and Mayor Harvey beneath the new sign, attendees quickly headed inside Baptist Temple to beat the rain.

Alyce Mauldin, one of the Baptist Temple committee coordinators who helped with the street-naming effort, provided Scripture, followed by prayer from Angela Mauldin. Pastor Newkirk-Briggs also recognized Orange County Legislator Gabrielle Hill, who was among those in attendance. For Mayor Harvey, the street naming was much more than an official act. Rev. Dr. Williams and Baptist Temple played a pivotal role in his own life. Harvey recalled meeting Rev. Dr. Williams in 1991 while working as a waiter at the Holiday Inn in Fishkill.

“He said, ‘Who are you boys? Where are you boys from?… We got to get you boys in school,’” recalled Harvey, who said Rev. Dr. Williams did not know that his family had fallen on difficult times. “He didn’t know we were sleeping in a van for six months, homeless at that time… That’s how I was introduced to Baptist Temple.”

Harvey became involved with Baptist Temple’s choir and youth department and said the church and Williams family poured love, guidance, education, and encouragement into his life. One pivotal experience came when Baptist Temple’s Youth Department traveled to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Standing on the campus, Harvey wondered whether attending the prestigious historically Black college could become a reality.

“We stopped and we looked at Pastor Saul Williams and we said, ‘Do you think we can come here?’” Harvey recalled. “He said, ‘What does the Word say, son?’ He said, ‘The Word says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and if you want it, go.’”

Years later, Harvey stood inside the church as Mayor of the City of Newburgh helping permanently honor the man who had encouraged him.
“To honor the family and Rev. Saul Williams with the street naming, I am so, so happy and blessed to be in this position to make that happen,” said Harvey. “This will forever be in the annals of history.”

For Rev. Dr. Williams’ daughters, the ceremony also represented the continuing bond between their family and Baptist Temple.
“There is no way that any of us can tell our story without specifically Baptist Temple,” said Joelle Williams. “We are interwoven, and I just want to say how grateful we are that you all continue to invite us back and that you continue to honor our father. It means so much to us.”

Her sister, Juliette Williams Pryor, said the street naming represents more than her father alone. It represents the work of the charter members and generations of Baptist Temple members who have served Newburgh. Williams Pryor recalled Baptist Temple opening its doors to the community during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, including allowing memorial services for people who were not church members.

“We were always a church of the community, and that’s what this stands for,” she said. “We are standing on this corner still after 50 years as an anchor for the community.”

Pastor Newkirk-Briggs also recognized Alyce Mauldin and Dee Russell for helping start the street-naming process. She reflected on Baptist Temple’s 50-year journey, which has been celebrated throughout the year with Jubilee events.

“We realize that 50 years is a long time, and there were some ups and some downs,” said Pastor Newkirk-Briggs. “But we’re still standing, and we thank God for those that started out because it wasn’t an easy road, but they stayed the course.”

Karen Moody offered a musical selection before Bishop Jeffrey C. Woody, President of the Christian Ministerial Fellowship of Newburgh & Vicinity, Inc., shared his own memories of Rev. Dr. Williams.

“One thing that he would always say is, ‘It’s just nice to be nice,’” said Bishop Woody as he remembered the encouragement he received from Williams as a young man. “He would always encourage me and I thank God for men like him who were able to encourage a young man like myself.”

The brief ceremony concluded with light refreshments and fellowship. Long after the nor’easter passed, however, the new signs remained—a permanent reminder at William Street, between Broadway and Ann Street, of a pastor whose ministry, encouragement, and commitment to community continue to live on through his family, Baptist Temple Church, and the City of Newburgh.

Journalist Ms. Jones