A Morning of Showers and Reflection
On Friday, August 29, 2025, the Crawley sky opened with heavy morning showers. It was as if nature itself paused to mourn, to weep, and to honour the memory of a woman who had brought so much light into the lives of those around her. By the time mourners gathered at St Richard’s Chapel later in the day, the rain had softened, creating an atmosphere of solemn grace—perfectly suited for the celebration of the life of Tempie Delois Williams (née King).
📷 [Photo suggestion: a shot of the chapel exterior in the rain, or guests arriving under umbrellas]
Gathering at St Richard’s Chapel
🌹 “A Celebration of Life: The Lasting Legacy of Tempie Williams”
The chapel, located on the peaceful grounds of the Crematorium, became a place of comfort and reflection for family members, close friends, and colleagues who came to pay their final respects. Among the congregation were her devoted husband Ras Albert Williams, her siblings, extended family, and a wide circle of companions whose lives she had touched. For those unable to attend in person, the service was streamed live, with the recording to be made available on-demand later this week.
📷 [Photo suggestion: interior wide shot of St Richard’s Chapel with guests seated]
Eulogy for Tempie
by Ras Albert Williams
Brothers and Sisters, the song, They Became a Team begins with a most powerful declaration. A statement of fact, a truism that governed the 19 years that I knew the lyricist.
SHE LEFT A BIG WOMAN
AND BECAME A LITTLE GIRL.
IN THIS BIG WIDE WORLD
AND SHE MET HER SHINING KNIGHT.
AND HE TOOK HER HAND
HE HELD HER TIGHT.
HE BECAME HER MAN
Today, we gather with heavy hearts to remember and celebrate the extraordinary life of my beloved wife, Tempie Delois Williams. A woman of grace, strength, and unwavering love, Tempie was my greatest friend, my steadfast supporter, and my only confidante.
I first met Tempie in 2006, and I’ve told this story many times before, through a serendipitous encounter on PublishAmerica’s author’s message board. From the start, we hit it off her, and one thing led to another. 19 years later, here we are at another milestone the final minutes in our long good bye.
Tempie lived a full life of purpose and dedication. She served as a phlebotomist, a health educator, a telemarketer supervisor and a care home administrator, and she was also a creative soul she could sing, she could draw, and had a remarkable gift for writing.
Her novel Feelings, is Tempie’s gift to the world. It is Tempie’s testament to her over standing of the deep-rooted prejudices that made America, and that still haunt us in the 21st-centruy. Yet with compassion and insight, weaving her truth into those pages that touch everyone who reads them.
When Tempie left Memphis to join me in the UK, she embraced Crawley as her new home with warmth and joy. We were married on May 10, 2008, at Crawley Town Hall, but from the early days of our first meeting in the flesh Jan 2006, we created our brand, “Albert and Tempie – The Winning Team,” working together on our publications, documentaries, music, and our company, Albert and Tempie Ltd. In our newly-purchased FIAT Grande Punto, we travelled up and down the UK, to Bradford, Looking for Linda to Bath Somerset, to visit the former residence of Emperor Haile Selassie I. To Brighton, Chichester, Southampton. To London, to family and friends, to document the Nottinghill Carnival, to visit Buckingham Palace. We interviewed, family, friends, politicians, influencers, founders, rebels and priests. And we were just getting started.
Thank you Memphis for letting her go!
What I cherish most, however, are not just the accomplishments, but the daily acts of love and partnership we shared. Tempie was not just another house wife. Tempie was the ultimate companion. A real joy to be around. Tempie’s creativity and courage never left her, even in her final days. I remember sitting by her bedside in the hospital, stroking her temples as she whispered I love you —still asking after my health, about my blue medicine ball, whether GP had gas, and bidding me safe drive when I took leave of her hospital bedside, still thinking of me. That was Tempie: always caring, always strong.
ALL PEOPLE IN THE LAND
THEY BEGAN TO SEE
THEM HAPPY AND FREE.
Tempie had an incredible ability to make everyone she met feel seen and valued. I remember, the first time Tempie saw me in my Tesco Security uniform. Her eyes popped. Her kindness and elegance were unmatched, and her manuscripts, writings, letters, her and poems about us will forever be treasures to me. Most of all the relic; her thick dreadlocks that retains her essence. Even her recognisable gowns, now keep her presence alive in our home, and soon her ashes will find their resting place at 5 Burleys Road. Until, maybe one day, I’ll bring them 6,000 miles across the Atlantic, to Memphis, and disperse them with Tempie’s rhythm and blues, over the beautiful, West Memphis Bridge, riding Proud Mary down the Mississippi River.
Many were then, now they are not
The lounge feels larger and emptier now, photographs on the wall painful reminders of her absence. And yet, her legacy remains immeasurable. Her dedication to family history uncovered stories stretching across continents and centuries, work that deeply enriched our bond and connected us to something greater than ourselves.
Tempie will be remembered not only here in Crawley, but also in her hometown of Memphis—as a novelist, a vocalist and an artiste of immense courage. Even in her final moments, she showed only grace—never self-pity, never tears.
And now, as we say goodbye to her earthly presence, I know that Tempie’s spirit—her words, her music, her love—remains with us. She has left her mark on this world and on all who knew her.
Hey Baby! it’s time to take your rest now. Your sunrise was bright, your sunset even brighter, and your light will never fade as you soar and roar. Thank you my beloved for sharing your life with me. I am eternally grateful.
Thank you Memphis for letting her go!
As we all now must let Tempie go, to join the ancestors. To join both of our parents and loved ones who preceded us.
Thank you all for being here to honour Tempie’s life and to hold her memory in our hearts.
A Beautiful Setting for Remembrance
At the entrance to the chapel, guests were greeted by a framed photograph of Tempie—radiant, dignified, and full of life—placed on an easel beside her casket, adorned with floral tributes. It was a powerful image: a visual reminder of her presence, her strength, and the grace that defined her life.
📷 [Photo suggestion: close-up of Tempie’s framed photo and floral display]
Guided by Humanist Celebrant Hayley Rich
The celebration was organised and conducted by Humanist Celebrant Hayley Rich, who guided mourners with calm dignity through the carefully crafted order of service. Hayley’s words struck a balance between solemn remembrance and heartfelt celebration, capturing the essence of Tempie as a woman who lived fully, loved deeply, and left a lasting impression on all who knew her.
📷 [Photo suggestion: candid of Hayley speaking at the front of the chapel]
Readings, Tributes, and Tempie’s Own Voice
The service opened with a moment of reflection before moving into readings and musical pieces chosen to echo Tempie’s passions and values. Among the most moving moments were those in which Tempie’s own voice filled the chapel—her poetry and her song, preserved in recordings, allowing her to speak and sing once more to those gathered.
Family members and close companions rose to share tributes, painting a portrait of a woman who was not only a best-selling author of Feelings, but also a mentor, caregiver, administrator, health educator, and, above all, a beloved wife. Each story offered a different perspective: her humour, her wisdom, her determination, her commitment to community and to her Rastafari faith.
📷 [Photo suggestion: shot of a family member or close friend delivering a tribute]
Music, Memory, and Moments of Grace
Music played a vital role throughout the service, weaving together moments of contemplation with songs that uplifted and comforted. The chapel filled with both quiet tears and gentle smiles, as mourners remembered Tempie not in silence alone, but in the spirit of joy she carried with her throughout life.
📷 [Photo suggestion: a photo of the order of service booklet, highlighting music/poems]
Private Cremation and Fellowship at Home
Following the chapel service, a private cremation was held. Later in the day, mourners gathered at the family home on Burleys Road, where the atmosphere shifted from ceremony to fellowship. There, among photographs, keepsakes, and shared memories, friends and family raised a toast in Tempie’s honour.
It was a time not only of mourning but of storytelling—of remembering Tempie in her fullness: her love of cars, her joy in fashion, her presence on social media, her devotion to learning, and her role as a co-creator in the life she shared with her husband.
📷 [Photo suggestion: group photo at the family home, with people gathered informally]
A Legacy of Love and Commitment
Though the day began with rain, it closed in warmth and remembrance. Tempie’s celebration of life stood as a testament to her journey: from her roots in America, to her authorship, to her years of dedicated work and love in Britain. She leaves behind not only the memories of those who loved her but also a legacy of care, creativity, and resilience.
Her story is one of commitment—commitment to her family, to her community, and to her own pursuit of knowledge and creativity. As the livestream and on-demand recording allow others to witness the day, it becomes clear that Tempie’s influence reached far beyond the walls of St Richard’s Chapel.
In every tear, in every smile, and in every story shared, one truth was undeniable: Tempie Delois Williams will be remembered not only for the life she lived, but for the love she gave.
📷 [Photo suggestion: final portrait of Tempie smiling, as a closing image]
ALBERT WILLIAMS Reporting 
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