Gospel singer’s generosity lives on
Son, other volunteers give out more than 100 Thanksgiving meals through Heart of Love
When Andrew Williamson worked on a Mississippi cotton plantation, he sang to keep from going crazy from the heat and hellish work. He had a deep booming voice so commanding, that even the bosses would pause to listen.
In the 1960s, an Albany pastor helped Williamson and his brothers escape Mississippi and make new homes in the Capital Region. Williamson landed a job as a cook and dishwasher at the Intown Motel, raised a family and toured the Northeast with a gospel group called the Orioles. Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan issued a proclamation on his 100th birthday in August if 2017 honoring his musical talent and charitable work.
Williamson died in January. His son John is carrying on the singer’s legacy of giving with Heart of Love Ministries and its array of community outreach, including bestowing more than 100 Thanksgiving feasts on Albany residents who otherwise could not afford a holiday meal. Williamson and his volunteers collected frozen turkeys, canned peas, gravy, stuffing, potatoes and corn to give away at William S. Hackett Middle School.
Heart of Love relies on loyal volunteers like Preem Cabey who said she used a vacation day from her full-time job to drive Albany residents from their homes or workplaces to the school to pick up their feast ingredients.
“For the people John is helping, the choice is between paying an electric bill or rent and having a turkey dinner,” Cabey said. “Many of them work two fulltime jobs or multiple part-time jobs but a holiday meal would still be a luxury. This means a lot to them, to have a special dinner for friends and family.”
The Williamson family also credits donors—hannaford Supermarkets, Price Chopper, New Country Toyota of Clifton Park General Manager Mike Raucci, Shoprite, Latham Toyota — for helping them keep the turkey giveaway going for five years now.
“Albany School District is assisting us greatly by providing a safe place where people can come and collect their turkeys after dark,” John Williamson said.
In addition to the turkey giveaway, Heart of Love hosts an annual summer basketball tournament for Albany children and teens. It also has a program called Follow Me Home that helps people leaving jail or prison find jobs and homes and reunite with family members and the community.
Andrew Williamson was an artistic success as a singer but he was never rich. He never gave up his jobs in the kitchen and he lived in times when black musical groups were often exploited rather than paid fairly. But he retained his rich, rolling voice at age 100. His children still adore him and cherish his message. John says his dad told them never to settle for talking about being a Christian and loving Jesus. He urged them to take action.
“We are delighted to bring a smile and a piece of hope to a family’s Thanksgiving table, just to take the worry off the table and replace it with a turkey,” John said.