By Cara Cowan Watts | Cherokee 411
August 19, 1956 – July 21, 2026
Jay, Oklahoma
Cherokee Nation Citizen
Jacob Fedell Williams, age 69, of Jay, Oklahoma, went peacefully to his heavenly home on July 21, 2026, at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, with his daughter and son at his bedside. He was born on August 19, 1956, in Claremore, Oklahoma, to the late Burl Jacob Williams and Lydia Ann (Raven) Williams.
Jacob was the thirteenth of fourteen children. He was a member of the Cherokee Nation and was raised in Delaware County on his family’s ancestral allotment land. As a young boy, he spent much of his time with his beloved grandmother, Emma Ann (Miller) Raven, with whom he shared a very special bond. During those early years, he spoke mostly Cherokee, so much so that many wondered if he would speak English when he began school, but he did. He attended Jay Public Schools through high school, but left a few months shy of graduating. Determined to finish what he started, he later earned his General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Jacob was known for his strong work ethic and his willingness to learn.
Throughout his life, he held many different jobs, including tree trimming, working at a sawmill, construction, and roofing. He was even a school bus driver for Jay Schools for one school year. He then spent several years with the Lakemont Shores Maintenance Department. While employed there, he took classes to earn his water operator’s license. He also earned extra money mowing lawns and doing odd jobs for residents around Windmill Run Marina and Lakemont Shores. Eventually, Jacob joined the County Tax Assessor’s Office. He also took on more side jobs such as conducting sheriff’s sale appraisals and unloading ballots during elections. Over the years, he became a familiar and well-loved presence at the Delaware County Courthouse. Even after retiring, he occasionally returned to work part-time because he genuinely enjoyed his work and the people he worked with.
In February 1983, Jacob accepted Christ as his Savior at Hillside Baptist Church. Shortly afterward, he was baptized at First Baptist Church of Jay because the weather was too cold to do it outdoors. He faithfully served the Lord in quiet, generous ways. He often gave the extra money he earned to his church or to traveling missionaries and evangelists. For many years, he also volunteered at the Picture in Scripture Amphitheater, where he was known for cooking fish for those attending.
[DRAFT NOTE — biography file and photo matches the previous submission exactly — verify this belongs to this person]
