Echoes from the Sandhills

Series 4 - Echoes in Action

Echo 21 - Booker T. Williams: Cultivating Knowledge, Preparing Generations

If you attended Johnsonville High School before the integration of Harnett County schools, Benhaven High School afterward, or Western Harnett High School following the consolidation of three western Harnett County high schools, chances are you knew B.T. Williams. Whether you were enrolled in one of his agriculture classes or not, you knew who he was. He was one of those teachers whose presence extended beyond the classroom and whose name became familiar to generations of students.

Booker Taliaferro Williams, known to students and colleagues simply as B.T. Williams, devoted 31 years to education. His career spanned a period of significant change in public education, from segregated schools through integration and school consolidation.

His story is part of a larger history of African American educators whose work extended beyond the classroom. They taught practical skills, encouraged self-sufficiency, and helped prepare students for opportunities beyond the communities in which they were raised.

From Louisiana to North Carolina

Booker T. Williams was born September 3, 1916, in Louisiana. He attended Grambling College and earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in vocational agriculture from North Carolina A&T State University.

Williams also served in the United States Army during World War II.

An Educator in the Sandhills

Over his 31-year career, Williams taught vocational agriculture at Johnsonville High School, Benhaven High School, and Western Harnett High School. His teaching career also included instructing World War II veterans at Fuquay High School.

Agricultural education was particularly important in rural communities, where farming provided both a livelihood and a foundation for family and community life. Students learned skills that could be applied on farms, in their homes, and in future occupations.

In July 1961, Williams delivered the main address at a Farmers' Day program held at Spout Springs Presbyterian Church. Speaking on the importance of farmers to the American economy, he also discussed changing farming methods and encouraged young people to remain involved in agriculture.

His participation reflected the connection between agricultural education and community life.

For African American students attending segregated schools, teachers like Williams provided instruction during a time when educational opportunities and resources were unequal.

The integration of Harnett County schools in the fall of 1969 and the subsequent consolidation of western Harnett County high schools brought changes to the educational landscape. Williams continued teaching through these transitions, eventually completing his career at Western Harnett High School.

A Career Remembered

Williams retired on January 31, 1980. A retirement dinner held in his honor on January 26 at Western Harnett High School drew more than 125 people, including family members, colleagues, former students, and representatives of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Those who spoke recalled not only his contributions to agricultural education but also his influence on students.

Eugene Driver, Harnett County's director of vocational education, praised Williams' contributions to the county. Mrs. H.M. Cagle, a member of the local advisory board, recalled that Williams had taught four of her children and had made a lasting impression on them.

Gary Kelly, president of the Western Harnett student body, described Williams as respected and liked.

Williams himself was remembered for his approach to teaching and his interest in enriching students' minds beyond agricultural instruction.

Family, Faith, and Community

Williams and his wife, the former Ethel Patterson, shared 72 years of marriage. Ethel, a Harnett County native, worked as a guidance counselor at Harnett Central High School.

Their family included sons Booker T. Williams, Jr., and Reynauld Williams.

The family maintained ties to the Shawtown community and Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Lillington.

His son, Booker T. Williams, Jr., graduated as valedictorian of Shawtown High School in 1965, a reminder of the educational accomplishments that emerged from the community during segregation.

Booker T. Williams died on April 11, 2018, at the age of 101. His funeral was held at Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, where he was laid to rest.

Remembering the Educators

The history of education in the Sandhills is more than a history of school buildings, enrollment figures, and changing school districts. It is also the history of the individuals who entered classrooms each day, taught generations of children, and contributed to the development of their communities.

Booker T. Williams was among those educators.

His 31 years in education represent an important chapter in the history of Johnsonville, Benhaven, Western Harnett, and the African American educational experience in Harnett County.

His story reminds us that the legacy of a school is carried not only in its buildings, but also in the lives of those who taught and learned within its walls.

If you attended Johnsonville, Benhaven, or Western Harnett and remember B.T. Williams, we invite you to share your memories. What do you remember most about him?

Echoes from the Sandhills is a historical storytelling series of the Sandhills Family Heritage Association, dedicated to preserving the people, places, and experiences that shaped our communities.

Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future.