The Williams-Rivers Family has its origins near Charleston, South Carolina, where in 1821, a young African girl from the Mende peoples was sold to a Plantation owner named Rayner for $250.00. She was only 16 years old and was called Mandi. Grandma Mandi mothered a daughter - Harriett – who bore 3 children - Wash Williams, Jerry Williams, & Dennis Williams – with her husband, Harmon, who was also a slave. Years later, the Family was sold to another planter from Henning Tennessee named Williams. Harriet had a daughter named Hannah Williams Perry. Before slavery ended, the family was sold yet again, to an owner named Thum. After emancipation, they settled in Haywood County, Tennessee (near Brownsville in West Tennessee) in a section called "Watkins Quarter." It was around this time that Harriet had another son, Burl Rivers.

Presently, our very large family resides in many communities throughout the United States and some abroad. Some of our larger family communities reside in Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO, Chicago, IL, Gary, IN, and Detroit & Pontiac, MI.

Please join us at the next family reunion in St. Louis - June 23-25, 2006.