Jackee Harry weds in lavish Beverly Hills ceremony

Jet, Dec 23, 1996

Jackee Harry, long known as one of television's sexiest vamps, recently gave up her single status in a lavish Beverly Hills wedding.

The star of the hit television sitcom "Sister, Sister" recently wed her beau of more than a year, Elgin Charles Williams, at the elegant Beverly Hills Hotel in front of more than 550 invited guests. In that trademark, sultry voice, she described her nuptials in just one word: Fabulous!"

Jackee wore an elegant white silk and satin gown designed by Robert Turturice, who's designing costumes for the upcoming Batman sequel. The gown was fitted and called for the bride to take very, very slow steps.

Turturice also designed the tuxedos worn by the groom and his attendants. The bridal train was an estimated four feet long. In order to make sure she was fresh and "flawless" for the pictures, the bride broke the long-standing tradition of not letting the groom see her before her stroll down the aisle. She said she was afraid that shed cry during the playing of Here Comes the Bride.

Bishop E. Lynn Brown officiated. Cheryl Lynn serenaded the couple with her rendition of You Are So Beautiful. Ali-Ollie Woodson of the Temptations sang Treat Her Like a Lady. The wedding was held in the gardens of the historic hotel and the reception in the Crystal Room.

Cheryl Lynn got the reception off to an exciting start with Got To Be Real.

Jackee told Jet: "It was time. I knew him for two Years even before we started dating. And we dated for a year and a half." She met Williams at his salon in Beverly Hills. But, she was a customer of one of the female hairdressers there. "I saw him and thought he was cute," she recalled. "I thought he had a girlfriend with all those women in there."

She described Williams as "wonderful." "Marriage really feels good. We're really close. And we really like each other. We laugh a lot, sit up and talk a lot. He's very calming. He's making me calm and a more patient person. He's really positive about every thing. He's a very spiritual man."

She pointed out that Williams has been studying for the ministry for the last five years at the Crenshaw Christian Center in South Los Angeles under Rev. Frederick Price. They're not certain where he'll end up when his ministry studies conclude.

What impresses her most about her new husband is his ability to patiently handle the hectic nature of her life as an actress. She said it's rare to find a man who can emotionally handle a woman with a high-profile job such as hers.

"He's so wonderful and has really great humor. He has the kind of patience and understanding to deal with a woman in show business. He is always positive. Always positive."

Jackee garnered a national image as a super sexy vamp when she played on the NBC sitcom "227" 1980s. She got all kinds of fan mail with all kinds of proposals and offers.

"Sandra was sexy. But that sexy Sandra doesn't last," she said. "You'll be a lonely, sexy old girl. I didn't really mind being alone, but you don't want to be alone too long. You need to have someone to share with."

This is her second marriage, his first, and she is convinced that, after years of being a single woman, this one will last the rest of her life. "This time it's right. No divorce. That's what the vows say, 'Till death do us part.'"

The couple plans on a relaxing honeymoon at an undisclosed tropical location. When they return, Jackee said they'll return to the drudgery of the continued renovation of their home. But, she's convinced that she won't mind the renovation or any other inconveniences now that she has her special life partner.