Marcellus Williams (left) with his family. Images courtesy of the Williams family.
A Poet, an Imam, a Life Cut Short: Remembering Marcellus Williams on His Birthday
On Dec. 30, we honor the life and legacy of Marcellus "Khaliifah" Williams, a man whose poetry and compassion touched hundreds of thousands of lives.
12.23.24 By Innocence Staff
Marcellus Williams (Image courtesy of Marcellus’ legal team).
Dec. 30 marks what would have been Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams’ 56th birthday. A gifted imam and poet, he spent over two decades on Missouri’s death row for a crime he did not commit. On Sept. 24, the state of Missouri executed him.
Marcellus’ story is a painful reminder of the racial and systemic inequities that persist in our criminal legal system. A Black man wrongly convicted of killing a white woman based primarily on unreliable testimony from two incentivized witnesses, he maintained his innocence with dignity and resilience until the very end.
In honor of Marcellus’ life and legacy, we’re creating a special remembrance card for his family. By joining us, you can help show them the impact he had on so many lives.
Marcellus was more than his wrongful conviction — he was a man of remarkable depth who was known for his compassion and creativity. His poetry was his lifeline to connect with others and find solace in the face of unimaginable isolation.
One of his poems, “At last…Another’s heartbeat,” reflects the loneliness he felt during incarceration, while capturing his unwavering hope for love and connection:
At last…Another’s heartbeat
By Marcellus Williams
the silhouettes of their bond visible still at the last glow of the sun
they experience each other and the life of the night as it begins to stir
standing there in silence holding hands
no rush to go back inside
there is so much beauty and comfort in being in love and just being…
– amidst sounds of buzzing
chirps
crickets
the pleasant but irregular blowing of the wind
fireflies dancing in step with the light of the moon
how strange it is to become aware of another’s heartbeat but forget one’s own –
finally love.
Through his poetry, Marcellus laid bare the depths of his humanity, which was too often dismissed by a broken system.
Marcellus Williams (left) with a friend during incarceration. Photo courtesy of the Williams family.
Join Us in Remembering Marcellus
Marcellus was a mentor, a poet, and a friend to many of his incarcerated brothers and sisters. Even in the darkest moments, he used his words to inspire and connect. Today, we remember him as a person whose kindness and strength transcended the walls that confined him.
To honor his 56th birthday, we invite you to sign a remembrance card for his family. Together, we hope to collect 50,000 signatures to show them how profoundly Marcellus touched our lives and inspired us to fight for a more just world.
On this special day, let us honor Marcellus by continuing to amplify the voices of the wrongfully convicted and fight for systemic change.
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