Franciscan Father Paul Williams, a Franciscan friar for 44 years and a priest for 35 who devoted his life to serving the Black Catholic community in the South and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, died Jan. 3 at St. Camillus Friary in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was 70 years old.

Born June 16, 1951 in Alexandria, Virginia, he was the son of Harold and Clarise  Rice, was graduated from George Washington High School there and attended Northern Virginia Community College.

Father Williams was received into the Order of Friars Minor on June 23, 1976 at St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, N.Y., and professed first vows one year later at St. Francis Friary in Brookline, Massachusetts. He continued his formation at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C.; and while there, he also began studying at George Mason University. He made his solemn profession on June 21, 1980 in New York City and graduated from GMU in 1982.

He attended Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts from 1982 to 1986, graduating with his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained on May 3, 1986 in New York City.

Following his ordination, Father Williams served for one year at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City before he was appointed pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Greenville, South Carolina. He served there for 15 years before being named pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Columbia, South Carolina, where he worked for nine years. During that time, he also served as regional dean for the Diocese of Charleston, vicar for that diocese’s Office of Black Catholics, and member of the Presbyteral Council and Diocesan Priests Personnel Board.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI honored Father Williams with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross in recognition of his dedicated service the Church. The medal is the highest award that a Franciscan can receive from the papacy.

In 2011, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Anderson, South Carolina, where he served for three years before he became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Wilmington, Delaware. During his seven years there, Father Williams also worked as director of that diocese’s Ministry for Black Catholics. He moved to St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring in 2020, where he ministered until his death.

He is survived by his sister, Denise Lucas, and his niece, Tarsha Rice, of Alexandria, Virginia.

A viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Jan. 13 at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. Provincial Minister Franciscan Father Kevin Mullen will celebrate the Mass and Franciscan Father Brian Jordan will give the homily. The Mass will be livestreamed by St. Camillus Church.