The Rev. Cecil Williams, civil rights pioneer, champion for the poor and hungry, and probably the most influential religious figure in San Francisco over the last 50 years, has died.
Williams passed away peacefully Monday morning at his home in a retirement community near Glide Memorial Church, said Karl Robillard, chief communications officer at Glide.
No cause was given. He was 94. Immediately after the word came out Monday afternoon, Marvin K. White, who succeeded Williams as minister of celebration at Glide, was in the sanctuary, welcoming members of the congregation and the wider community who had streamed in after hearing of his death.
“Cecil was unwavering in his commitment to help the most marginalized in our community and in the world,” said Gina Fromer, president and CEO of Glide, an umbrella for the church and its programs, including a dining room that serves 1,500 free meals a day and its advocacy arm, called the Center for Social Justice.
“We will keep Cecil’s spirit within us always, as it guides our work going forward.”
Mayor London Breed credited Williams with being at “the top of the list” of Black role models who inspired a call to service in her when she was growing up under difficult circumstances in San Francisco.
