Rev. Cecil Williams, who served as the pastor at the Glide Memorial Church for 60 years before retiring, has died. He was 94.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed released a statement Monday about the death of Williams.
Breed called Williams the “conscience of our San Francisco Community.” She went on to speak about his work with the Glide Memorial Church, highlighting its supportive housing and wraparound programs.
Breed ended the statement by writing: “As a young girl, I would never have dreamed I’d grow up to work with him. We all benefited from his guidance, his support, and his moral compass. We would not be who we are as a city and a people without the legendary Cecil Williams.”
Read Breed’s full statement here.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also released a statement on Williams' death Monday. It read, in part: “Reverend Williams truly embodied the California values of unity, generosity and acceptance. All of us can take inspiration from his legacy and renew our commitment to one another.”
Read the whole statement here.
Before his retirement in 2023, Williams had served as Glide’s pastor since 1963. He was 94.
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
