Good Sunday Morning POU!
Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, known professionally as Shirley Caesar (born October 13, 1938, Durham, NC), is a Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned over six decades. A multi-award winning artist, with eleven Grammy Awards and seven Dove Awards to her credit, she is known as the “First Lady of Gospel Music”.
Caesar first began singing and performing for family and friends. She first recorded in 1949, at age 11. Her professional adult ‘career’ began when she was 20, when she approached Albertina Walker about joining The Caravans, one of the most popular gospel groups at that time.
She sang with Albertina Walker, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington and James Cleveland while in the Caravans. She recorded and performed with the Caravans from 1958 until 1966. Thereafter she began pursuing a solo career with two albums, entitled My Testimony and I’ll Go, backed up by the Institutional Radio Choir. She made a name for herself in the gospel music circuit, making guest appearances on the Bobby Jones gospel show and other popular television shows. Caesar credits Albertina Walker as her mentor and “Queen of Gospel Music”.
Hold My Mule
Caesar graduated from Shaw University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1984. She pastors the 1,500-member Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband, Bishop Harold I. Williams until his death in 2014. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and had been married to her husband Bishop Harold Williams since 1983.
Rejoice
“I never dreamed the Lord would bring my ministry to where it is, and I feel that I have not yet reached the zenith because we’ve got such wonderful things planned!” She cites her mother as a strong influence in her decision to give so selflessly of herself. The pastor has committed a sizable portion of all concert sales to her outreach ministries. She continues to deliver weekly sermons and also leads an annual outreach ministries conference. She notes, “I cannot sweeten the Atlantic Ocean, but I can take a pitcher out of the ocean and sweeten that.”
He’s Working It Out