Elizabeth D. Williams

Elizabeth D. Williams, 95, of Albany, GA, passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2015. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11:00 AM at Mathews Funeral Home. Ross Powell will officiate. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery.

A native of Americus, GA, Mrs. Williams was born February 5, 1920, to the late Richard A. and Elizabeth Duff. She enjoyed school, graduating as Valedictorian from Americus High School in 1937, attending Georgia Southwestern College and The University of Georgia. Mrs. Williams was an accomplished seamstress and cook. She had an outgoing personality and in August 1936, at the age of 16, was named Miss Americus. She excelled at dancing and loved music. She was also an avid bridge player, achieving the level of Life Master.

She married her late husband, Col. William Isaiah Williams, in 1941, at which point William joined the Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot at the start of World War II. The Army Air Corps morphed into the U.S. Air Force, and Col. and Mrs. Williams never looked back, enjoying a 29-year career, which included traveling to many different stations, including Germany, Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and California (twice), among others, raising their seven children along the way. Upon Col. Williams' retirement in 1970, the Williams returned to Albany, GA, there to continue raising their children.

Mrs. Williams was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth (Cissy) Williams in 1973.

Survivors include three daughters, Jane May of Dandridge, TN, Rebecca Williams of Albany, GA, and Olivia (and Bill) Strickland of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; three sons, Barney Bass (and Lynnell) Williams of Lee County, GA, William I. Williams, Jr., of St. Petersburg, FL, and Jonathan Williams of Leary, GA; ten grandchildren, Allen Williams of Leesburg, GA, Barney W. Williams of Albany, GA, Patricia Manning of Pompano Beach, FL, Williams I. Williams, III, of Virginia Beach, VA, Michael L. (and Robyn) Williams of Parrish, FL, John C. Allen of Swainsboro, GA, John Phillip (and Carly) May of Atlanta, GA, Nicholas Adam May of Apex, NC, Taylor Strickland of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Amber Williams of Kennesaw, GA, and nine great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to particularly express our appreciation for the love, support, and good cheer given to Mom by our dear friend Alma Emanuel who brightens a room simply by walking into it.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Thursday at Mathews Funeral Home.

The family is at the residence of her daughter, Becky Williams, 1802 Eleventh Ave., Albany.