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Pastor of Goose Creek Tiny Chapel Passes Away

by Nikki Gaskins Campbell
The chapel is located at 222 Saint James Avenue in Goose Creek.

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. — If you drive back and forth along St. James Avenue in Goose Creek, it’s hard to not notice the small, quaint chapel that sits quietly off to the road.

The Wedding and Prayer Chapel has been a fixture in the heart of the city for the last 32 years all thanks to Rev. Mayford ‘M. C.’ Williams. On Saturday, however, the chapel’s founding member peacefully passed away. He was 86-years-old.

“His heart finally gave out. He passed quietly Saturday evening at his daughter and son-in- law’s residence in Florence,” stated Dave Crane, the associate pastor at the chapel.

Pastor M.C William pictured with his late wife, Polly.

A Passion for the Gospel

Rev. Williams had spent more than 66 years in the ministry. He and his late wife, Polly, founded the Goose Creek chapel in 1987.

“She was with me every step of the way. She loved to do the preparation of the chapel, take telephone calls. She did it all,” the pastor told The Berkeley Observer in a 2016 interview.

According to the last interview Williams ever gave, he said he found joy in helping people become closer to God. Through the chapel, he said he was able to serve many people and guide them in their walk with Christ.

“He was the warmest, most loving, caring, compassionate man you would ever meet,” stated Pastor Crane.

Services to Continue

Despite Williams’ recent passing, Sunday chapel services, weddings, children’s baptisms, memorial services, vow renewals and Christian counseling services will continue to be led by Pastor Crane.

“With the help of his daughter and son-in- law, I intend to continue with the chapel ministry,” stated Crane.

Picture: Pastor Dave Crane and Rev. Williams

A Friendship Forms

In July 2013, Crane, a longtime notary public, was scheduled to perform a wedding at the chapel. Having never been there, he decided to check the chapel out before the big wedding day.

“I was coming out of the sanctuary as the pastor was walking in the front door,” recalled Crane. “It felt like a Holy Spirit moment if you will, our eyes met. He asked if I had been looking to come into full-time ministry. Bear in mind he didn’t even know who I was at this point. Well, it turned out the Lord had been tugging at me to do more than what I had been doing.”

Rev. Williams eventually took Crane under his wings and began mentoring him. Pretty soon, he began teaching Sunday school.

“In August of that same year, Pastor Williams got into an accident which stopped him from being able to drive anymore. So suddenly I found myself more or less doing all the things that needed to be done at the chapel including weddings, christenings, memorials, and of course the regular Sunday service,” explained Crane.

In February 2016, Crane was formally ordained as a minister under the Prayer and Wedding Chapel Ministries, the official name of the Goose Creek Wedding and Prayer Chapel.

“He had been mentoring me ever since we met, and I will definitely miss his inspiration and teaching of the Gospel,” stated Crane. “He took a lump of clay and molded me into what I am today. He was like a father figure to me, my ‘spiritual father.’ He helped me renew my faith. I will always miss him.”

Rev. Williams is survived by his daughter, Brenda (Carl) Morris; grandchildren, Brandi M. (Rex) Williams, Tiffany Morris, Derek Derr, and Trey (Heather) Derr; sister, Shirley Jean (Bob) Tripp.

Pictured: Rev. Mayford ‘M. C.” Williams

A Celebration of His Life

Graveside services, directed by Morris Funeral Home of Hemingway, SC, will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, September 25, 2019 in the Williams Hill Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery, 86 Williams Hill Road, Hemingway, SC,

A celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, September 29, 2019 in the Abundant Life Church, 3030 S. Irby St., Florence, SC 29505.

The family will receive friends after the service Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Abundant Life Church.

The Wedding and Prayer Chapel in Goose Creek, which is located at 222 St. James Avenue, will have a small memorial service for Rev. Williams on October 6.

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