Clarissa S. Williams
Encyclopedia
Clarissa Smith Williams (April 21, 1859 – March 8, 1930) was the sixth general president of the Relief Society
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1921 to 1928. Williams was the first native Utah
n to become Relief Society president.
Clarissa Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
, to Susan West, the seventh wife of LDS Apostle George A. Smith
.
In 1901, Bathsheba W. Smith
, who was one of George A. Smith's other wives, asked Williams to serve as treasurer of the Relief Society. Williams served in this position until 1910, when she became the first counselor to president Emmeline B. Wells
in the Relief Society general presidency. She held this position until 1921, when she was chosen to succeed Wells as president after Wells's death. Due to failing health, Williams asked to be released from her calling in 1928 and was succeeded by Louise Y. Robison
. Williams died of nephritis
in Salt Lake City.
Williams married William N. Williams on July 17, 1877 and was the mother of eleven children.
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1921 to 1928. Williams was the first native Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
n to become Relief Society president.
Clarissa Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, to Susan West, the seventh wife of LDS Apostle George A. Smith
George A. Smith
George Albert Smith was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as a member of the church's First Presidency.-Childhood:Smith was born in Potsdam, St...
.
In 1901, Bathsheba W. Smith
Bathsheba W. Smith
Bathsheba Wilson Bigler Smith was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement. She was the fourth general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a matron of the Salt Lake Temple, a member of the Board of Directors of Deseret Hospital, Salt Lake...
, who was one of George A. Smith's other wives, asked Williams to serve as treasurer of the Relief Society. Williams served in this position until 1910, when she became the first counselor to president Emmeline B. Wells
Emmeline B. Wells
Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney Wells was an American journalist, editor, poet, women's rights advocate and diarist...
in the Relief Society general presidency. She held this position until 1921, when she was chosen to succeed Wells as president after Wells's death. Due to failing health, Williams asked to be released from her calling in 1928 and was succeeded by Louise Y. Robison
Louise Y. Robison
Louise Yates Robison was the seventh general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1928 to 1939....
. Williams died of nephritis
Nephritis
Nephritis is inflammation of the nephrons in the kidneys. The word "nephritis" was imported from Latin, which took it from Greek: νεφρίτιδα. The word comes from the Greek νεφρός - nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation"....
in Salt Lake City.
Williams married William N. Williams on July 17, 1877 and was the mother of eleven children.