An Extraordinary Life: Joliet barber was a 'good guy to be around'

Getting one’s hair cut by O.J. Williams at the family-owned Williams Barber Shop in Joliet was more than a simple hair cut.

For customers such as Warren C. Dorris Jr., pastor of Prayer Tower Ministries Church of God in Christ, it was a family tradition. Warren said O.J. not only cut his hair, O.J. cut Warren’s father’s hair and the hair of Warren’s sons.

O.J. also was known for his generosity. But few people realized the extent of that generosity, Warren said. Warren recalled one holiday when The Salvation Army didn’t have enough turkeys for the people who needed them.

“He filled in the gap and bought them,” Warren said. “He didn’t want anyone to know.”

According to his obituary, O.J. was born in Mississippi in 1937 and moved to Joliet in 1959. He worked for Caterpillar Tractor for 30 years (retiring in 1996) and for 47 years (about another 10 years after his retirement) at Williams Barber Shop.

O.J. was  No. 7 in a family of 14 children and the seventh one to die, said O.J.’s daughter Carla Anderson of Naperville. In fact O.J. was 80 when he died Dec. 18, which was the birthday of his late brother Levi Williams, who founded the barber shop.

As one of 11 boys, O.J. learned the art of barbering from his father, who cut all his children’s hair, Carla said. She recalled all the years her father worked from early morning until mid-afternoon at Caterpillar before coming home, showering and heading over to the barbershop and working “until 8 or 9 at night.”

And yet as busy as O.J. was, Carla said she was blessed to have this man, a classy dresser,  as a father.

“I never once asked my dad for anything and didn’t get it,” Carla said. “He might not get it that day, but he’d be sure to make it happen for me.”

Once a month or so, O.J. picked up Carla’s son and took them for haircuts, always giving them some pocket money before bringing them home, she said. About once a week, O.J. called Carla to check on her, just in case she needed anything.

“And then he called his sister and brother and asked them if they needed anything,” Carla said.

But as generous as O.J. was, he also ensured Carla understood the value of a good work ethic.

“He taught me to work hard and study hard,” Carla said. “He said you never appreciate anything until you have to work and pay for it yourself. ... I’m just thankful God gave him to me for as long as he did.”

Burnell Holman of Joliet worked with O.J. at Caterpillar, went to Williams Barber Shop for haircuts and became one of O.J.’s longtime friends. He said he admired O.J. for three reasons: his ability to work hard, his perseverance and the fact he was a Cubs fan.

“We were die-hard Cubs fans,” Burnell said with a laugh.

Burnell still is in awe at the way O.J. consistently worked two jobs and long hours and rarely missed a day, he said.

“When I look back on that, it was amazing,” Burnell said.

That type of dedication continued into retirement, when O.J. was only working at Williams Barber Shop. Burnell said O.J. would open the shop at 5:30 a.m. so guys could get their haircut and enjoy “a cup of coffee and a few laughs” before starting their day.

“It was more than just getting a haircut,” Burnell said. “You’d go and talk about sports and everything about life. And as he cut the people’s hair, he’d give positive advice and spiritual advice. He was funny and serious when he needed to be. He was just a good guy to be around.”

• To feature someone in “An Extraordinary Life,” contact Denise M. Baran-Unland at 815-280-4122 or dunland@shawmedia.com.