Willie Mae Williams

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:6

The world lost a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Willie Mae Williams, on July 27, 2023. Willie Mae, 78, quietly departed this life in her home after a battling a long illness of Alzheimer.

Willie Mae, born to parents (Arrelia and William Powell) on June 25 th , 1945 in Wetumpka, Alabama, was the third oldest of eight children. As a member of Galilee Baptist Church,
founded by her family, Willie Mae professed her faith at a young age and would remain steadfast in her walk with the Lord throughout her life. After falling in love, Willie Mae was
joined in holy matrimony at age 18 to Woodrow Williams on September 18, 1963. As a young wife, Willie Mae moved to St. Louis, MO with her husband and settled into her role as mother
to sons Juan in 1964 and Reginald in 1966. Willie Mae went on to work for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft for several years. Later in life, she continued her education and earned an Associate Degree in Accounting from St.Louis Community College. She joined Friendly Temple Baptist Church where she attended the weekly sunrise worship service on Sundays, served as an usher, and was an active member of her bible study group.

Much of what Willie Mae enjoyed throughout her life involved her family and friends. She was known as a mother to the neighborhood children. She welcomed and cooked for everyone. She kept a positive outlook on life, and continued to encourage and love everyone around her. Throughout the years, she remained humble, kind and honest with a servant’s heart. Holidays and Christmas were always special at her home. She spent hours in the kitchen cooking and baking preparing delicious meals for any occasion. Everything that came out of Willie Mae’s kitchen was excellent including her famous sweet potato pies, dressing, and lasagna. She loved to can as well, and was known in Alabama as the ChowChow lady. Willie Mae was a devoted grandmother who showed her love by giving her grandchildren a great start in education, and devoting her summers to them.

Willie Mae was a woman with many talents and gifts. A skilled seamstress, she designed and created clothing for herself and family. Willie Mae loved gardening and always tended the plants in her front yard and those throughout her home. Her hobbies included listening to music, jigsaw puzzles, crafts and taking photos. Her life was a living witness of the faith she practiced and she reflected God’s grace by generously sharing what she had with her relatives, grandchildren, friends, and members of her church in their time of need.

Willie Mae loved spending time with her friends and family. She was strong, thoughtful, caring and will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched. She was preceded in death by both parents and brothers Abraham (Helen) and William Jr. Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband of 59 years Woodrow; two sons Juan (Tanya) McDonough, GA and Reginald (Adrianne) St.Louis, MO. Seven grandchildren, Chevala, Jabari, Juan II, Angelle, Nathan, Nia, and Reginald, one great granddaughter Adora; Four sisters, Sarah (Los Angeles, CA), Brenda, Sherry, Debra, one brother James (Wetumpka, AL), three brother-in-laws Tommie, Joseph (Julia) (St.Louis, MO), Derrick (Wetumpka, AL) and one sister-in-law Margaret (St.Louis, MO) and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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