by Alan Hodge



CORNELIUS – Linda Williams’ new boutique, Lemuel, in Cornelius fuses high fashion and her belief that blessings should be shared.

A native of New York City, Williams came to the Cornelius area in March with the dream of opening a store where ladies could buy high-end clothes at reasonable prices. She also carried the conviction that something good was bound to happen if she gave it a chance.

“It was walk of faith coming here,” Williams said. “I knew God would provide.”

After studying the ladies’ clothing market in Cornelius and the surrounding towns, Williams saw an opportunity.

“I found Cornelius was underserved as far as the availability of couture — at economy friendly prices — was concerned,” Williams said. “You can’t get here what you can in New York.”

With that idea in mind, she took the plunge and set up shop in Cornelius.

Williams named her shop Lemuel, after a wise king in the Bible. The name means devoted to God in Hebrew.

Once Williams had the name and
location settled, picking the clothes for her new store came naturally.

“I’ve had a sense of style ever since I was a child,” she said. “My first job as a teen was at Bloomingdale’s on 59th Avenue in New York.”

Customers at Lemuel will find an eclectic blend of dresses, slacks, jackets and other items by some of the top names in the fashion world.

“I have clothes by Valentino, Missoni, Fendi, Vera Wang, Gucci and other designers,” Williams said.

Williams officially opened Lemuel on Jan. 11. Once sales start ringing up, she plans to share some of those funds with those who are less fortunate.

“I am going to give 10 percent of any store profits to charity,” she said. “The Lord placed it in my heart.”

Williams plans to give the money to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Red Cross, and Baptist Children’s Homes of N.C.

For Williams, caring and compassion for others comes as naturally as her sense of fashion. A former teacher in New York, she developed programs there to help at-risk teens get their lives back on track. Williams is also active in her church, Grace Covenant in Cornelius.

“Everything goes back to God,” Williams said. “I give all the glory to Him.”

Want to go?

Lemuel is located at 19826 N. Cove Road, Suite A, and is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.