Clarissa S. Williams

Clarissa S. Williams
Photo of Clarissa S. Williams
6th Relief Society General President
April 2, 1921  October 7, 1928[1]
Called by Heber J. Grant
Predecessor Emmeline B. Wells
Successor Louise Y. Robison
First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
October 3, 1910  April 2, 1921[1]
Called by Bathsheba W. Smith
Predecessor Annie Taylor Hyde
Successor Jennie B. Knight
Treasurer of the General Presidency of the Relief Society
1901  October 3, 1910
Called by Bathsheba W. Smith
Personal details
Born Clarissa Smith
April 21, 1859
Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States
Died March 8, 1930 (aged 70)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Cause of death Nephritis
Resting place Salt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W
Spouse William N. Williams
Children 11
Parents George Albert Smith
Susan E. West

Clarissa Smith Williams (April 21, 1859 – March 8, 1930) was the sixth Relief Society General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1921 to 1928. Williams was the first native Utahn to become Relief Society president.

Clarissa Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Susan West, the seventh wife of LDS Church apostle George A. Smith.

In 1901, Bathsheba W. Smith, who was one of Smith's other wives, asked Williams to serve as treasurer of the Relief Society. Williams served in this position until 1910, when she became the first counselor to president Emmeline B. Wells in the Relief Society general presidency. She held this position until 1921, when she was chosen to succeed Wells as president after Wells's death. Due to failing health, Williams asked to be released from her calling in 1928 and was succeeded by Louise Y. Robison. Williams died of nephritis in Salt Lake City and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.[2]

Williams married William N. Williams on July 17, 1877 and was the mother of eleven children.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ludlow, Daniel H, ed. (1992). "Biographical Register of General Church Officers". Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York: Macmillan Publishing. p. 1650. ISBN 0-02-879602-0. OCLC 24502140 Free on-line version here.
  2. State of Utah Death Certificate.

References

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by
Emmeline B. Wells
Relief Society General President
April 2, 1921October 7, 1928
Succeeded by
Louise Y. Robison
Preceded by
Annie Taylor Hyde
First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
October 3, 1910April 2, 1921
Succeeded by
Jennie B. Knight

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