This is the sixth year George and Francena Williams of Orangeburg have celebrated their wedding anniversary in a rather unique way.

Because they feel blessed by the gifts they have received in life – good jobs, a healthy family, a supportive and loving community – the Williams give invited guests a place to celebrate Thanksgiving by providing a meal on the special day.

“We have belonged to Trinity (United Methodist Church) all our lives,” Francena Williams said. “We know so many people, and many of them are either alone, too far away from their families or have no children.

“We were just trying to think of something we could do. The community and the church have been good to us over the years. This is our way of showing our gratitude for the things that have happened to us.

“This is the way we celebrate.”

On Nov. 27, the couple will celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary. Their four children help their parents prepare for the holiday feast, held in Trinity United Methodist Church’s George Watson Fellowship Hall.

“They just must do something,” Francena Williams said, adding that her children – Adriene, George Jr., Tina and Cheryl – will be making salads and desserts to feed their family and the 80 invited guests, as well as helping serve the dishes.

Baking began in the Williams’ home on Monday, with the turkey and dressing preparations taking place on Wednesday.

Other items on the menu include ham, rice and gravy, collard greens, mixed vegetables, rolls, sweet potato souffle and, of course, cranberry sauce prepared by one of the daughters. The Williams pay for all the food items and prepare everything but the rice, which is purchased, already cooked, from Reid’s.

In all, the Williams said they prepare the meal, from beginning to end, for 100 people.

“I came from a large family where my mother raised 11 children,” Francena Williams said. “Mama was always cooking and doing things for people.”

“When I was in high school, I remember kids followed us home” to get a taste of whatever freshly baked item her mother had prepared that day, she said, with her mom’s specialty being gingerbread.

She said her mother’s tradition of always cooking and looking out for her neighbors has trickled down to her, as she bakes pies and fruitcakes during the holidays and takes a baked item to the sick every time she goes for a visit.

George Williams, who sat intently listening to his wife talk about their gift to the community, said his main job is serving as the official “chopper,” preparing the bell peppers, onions and celery for his wife’s dressing.

“This is just a way to give back to the community,” he said. “Sometimes you feel you can’t do it, but once you start, there’s nothing to it.”

Francena Williams said she has made as many as 38 pies in two days, but it’s never felt like work. And she said she couldn’t do it without her husband, who she described as a workaholic.

“He helps a lot,” she said. “I got lucky. I married a man who knows how to cook and helps.”

In all, Francena Williams said celebrating the holidays with members of her newly formed extended family has been fun.

“We’ve had people look forward to it,” she said. “We stress, even to the children, to give something back to the community, and this is the way we do it. And we enjoy doing it.”

Both Francena and George Williams are retired – Francena from education and George from Albemarle. They have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

T&D Staff Writer Wendy Jeffcoat can be reached by e-mail at wjeffcoat@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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