GWiffarena cWiffiams

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GWiffarena
cWiffiams
Saturday, May 1,1999
1:00 P.M.
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Augusta, Georgia
***
Reverend Otis Moss, III ~ Presiding
On October 30, 1932, in Augusta, Georgia, the late Peter William Lamar and Serena
James Lamar named their second born daughter, "Willarene," a unique amalgamation of their
own names. Somewhere along the way, her name became Willarena. To family, friends and
colleagues, Willarena was variously and affectionately known as Willie, Mama, Baby Sister,
Mother©Rena, Grandmom, and Godmother.
She enjoyed a spirited and joyful childhood on Savannah Road in Augusta, growing up
amidst a large and loving family of parents, sisters, aunts, uncles, a grandmother, "kissing"
cousins and friends. Her parents instilled in her a strong religious faith, a zeal for education,
and an appreciation of music, literature, science, fresh peach cobbler, family celebrations and
green plants.
She attended Haines Normal Institute in Augusta, beginning in the primary class at age
4 and graduating as her high school class valedictorian, hi 1952, she received a Bachelor of
Arts Degree with honors in Biology from Talledega College in Talladega, Alabama and in
1954, a Master of Science Degree in Biology from Case Western Reserve University in
Cleveland, Ohio. She also earned an Education Specialist Degree in Administration and
Supervision from Augusta State University.
Willarena began her professional career as a Bidlogy Instructor at Spelman College in
Atlanta. She later joined the Richmond County School System, serving as a Classroom
Teacher, Gifted Program Instructor, and Curriculum Coordinator of Science and Health. Her
30 year career as an educator concluded at A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering High
School, where she served as Principal.
In the Augusta community, she was an active member of a variety of religious, social,
civic, and professional organizations reflecting her varied interests. She was a faithful
member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, member
of the History Committee, and the Red Rose Auxiliary. In addition, in her later years, she
sang in the R.A. Dent Gospel Choir.
Willarena was a staunch advocate for children and co-chartered the Augusta Chapter of
Jack and Jill of America. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The
Links, Inc., Augusta Women©s Civic Club, and Les Femmes Fatalea Bridge Club. She served
on the Augusta Opera Association Board of Directors, the Augusta-Richmond County
Museum Board of Trustees, the Augusta-Richmond County Human Relations Commission,
the Care Management Consultants Board, the Citizens Advisory Board of the Augusta Police
Department, and as Past President of the Richmond County Principals© Association.
0f
Processional............................................... "Great Is Thy faithfulness"
Scriptures
Old Testament - Psalm 121 - Rev. Inez Smith
New Testament - John 3:10-21 - Rev. Nathaniel Irvin
Prayer .......................................................... Rev. Otis Moss, III
Solo ........................................................... Ms. Patricia Parrish
"His Eye Is On The Sparrow"
Acknowledgements ............................................ Mrs. Nellie Hampton
Reflections
Ms. Edith Calhoun
Mrs. Carolyne Lamar Jordan
Mrs. Dollie Williams Banks
Solo ........................................................... Ms. Patricia Parrish
"Sweet, Sweet Spirit"
Eulogy ............................................................ Rev. Kip Banks
Remarks
& Benediction ................................................... Rev. Otis Moss, III
Recessional ............................................. "He Looked Beyond My Fault"
Interment ................................................... Cedar Grove Cemetery
Willarena was truly loving and giving, and her generosity and thoughtfulness were
well-known. She always remembered birthdays, holidays, and special occasions with a gift or
card. One of her greatest delights was sending packages of "goodies" to her grandchildren
across the country. She also immensely enjoyed her personal hobbies including reading,
growing plants, and especially writing. She maintained journals, wrote long reflective letters
to her family and composed many speeches that she delivered at churches and civic programs.
She was married on June 7, 1956, in Augusta Georgia to Tracy Evans Williams, Jr.
From this union, sprang a large and loving family that was the center of her life. She passed
on her ideals and a commitment to excellence to her appreciative children. A woman of
tranquil grace, abundant talents and unending goodwill, she served as a rock, a moral
compass, counselor, and nurturer to her family members, friends, students, professional
colleagues, and community associates.
Willarena is survived by: her devoted husband, Tracy Evans Williams, Jr.; seven children,
Tracy Evans Williams, HI, Peter W. L. Williams, Serena Maria Williams, Nita Williams
Walker, Mayme Williams Nwaneri, Dollie Williams Banks and Robert W. J. Williams; seven
grandchildren, Justin P. Williams, Sharon E. Williams, Tracy E. Williams, IV, Serena M. Walker,
David J.A. Walker, Carolyne M. Banks and Margaret K. Banks; three sisters, Julia Lamar
Langston, Carolyne Lamar Jordan and Claire Lamar Carey; an aunt, Juanita James Johnson;
two sisters-in-law, {Catherine W. Jones and Dollie W. Robertson; one daughter-in-law, Lisa H.
Williams; three sons-in-law, Wendell N. Walker, Kip B. Banks and Uchenna R. Nwaneri;
cousins, Edward Fairish, Jr., William James, Martina James Bryant, Jean James Caldwell,
Jacquelyn James Minor and Rosilyn James Martin; nieces and nephews, Lisa Powell Scipio, June
Powell, Sonia Jones Wright, Lara Jordan James, Samuel Lamar Jordan, Stephanie Robertson
and Roderick Lamar Carey; brothers-in-law, Leroy Langston, Lawrence Jordan, Harmon Carey
and Quincy Robertson; and a host of godchildren, other relatives and friends.
When you start on your journey to Ithaca
then pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
Then pray that the road is long,
that the summer mornings are many,
that you will enter ports seen for the first time,
With such pleasure, with such joy!
Always keep Ithaca fixed in your mind,
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But not to hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for long years;
and even to anchor at the isle when you are old,
rich with all that you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage,
Without her you would never have take the road.
From Ithaca
By Carafy
0f
rers
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
the Links, Inc.
Jack and Jill of America
Augusta Women©s Civic Club
Haines Alumni Association
Red Rose Auxiliary
Junior Girls Sunday School Class
R. A. Dent Gospel Choir
Les Femmes Fatales Bridge Club
Richmond County Retired Educators Association
cpott&carers
Mr. Thomas Blanchard
Mr. James Carter, IV
Mr. Marcus Dickerson
Mr. David James
Mr. Samuel Lamar Jordan
Mr. Mason Johnson
Mr. W. Terrance Merritt
Mr. Alfred Reed
Mr. Edward Tarver
Mr. Tracy Wright
Mr. Alvin Blount
Mrs. Judith Ruffin
******
Appreciation
The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to all for the many expressions of love, concern, and
sympathy extended during our time of sorrow. We pray God©s continued blessings upon each of you.
~r4l&toric **Ueni 6
930 D©Antignac Street ~ Augusta, Georgia
JVu0us
Mrs. Willarena Williams,
retired school principal
Mrs. Willarena Lamar Wil
liams, of 3110 Fir Court, died
Tuesday, April 27, 1999, at Univer
sity Hospital. She was 66.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m.
Saturday at Tabernacle Baptist
Church with the Rev. Otis B. Moss
III officiating. Burial will be in
Cedar Grove Cemetery.
Mrs. Williams, a lifelong resi
dent of Augusta, had retired as
principal from A.R. Johnson
Health Professions and Engineer
ing Magnet School. She was a sci
ence teacher at several area
schools and was on the board of
trustees at Augusta-Richmond
County Museum. She was a mem
ber of Tabernacle Baptist Church,
where she was a Sunday school
teacher and a member of the Red
Rose Auxiliary and the R.A. Dent
Gospel Choir.
"Mrs. Williams was a wonder
ful lady who did a lot for our com
munity. She was well known in
both the black and white commu
nities," said Beverly Barnhardt,
principal of John S. Davidson Fine
Arts Magnet School and a friend
of Mrs. Williams.
Survivors include her husband,
Tracy E. Williams Jr.; three sons,
Tracy E. Williams III, White
Plains, N.Y., Peter W.L. Wil
liams, Burke, Va., and Robert
W.J. Williams, Washington, D.C.;
four daughters, Serena M. Wil
liams, Louisville, Ky., Nita Wil
liams Walker, Cincinnati, Mayme
Williams Nwaneri, Silver Spring,
Md., and Dollie Williams Banks,
Mitchellville, Md.; three sisters,
Julia Lamar Langston, Madison,
Mrs. Willarena Lamar Williams
N.C., Carolyne Lamar Jordan,
Memphis, Tenn., and Claire Lamar Carey, Wilmington, Del.; and
seven grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers will be
members of the Red Rose Auxilia
ry, Haines Alumni Association,
R.A. Dent Gospel Choir, Junior
Girl©s Sunday School Class, Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority, The Links
Inc., Jack and Jill of America, Au
gusta Women©s Civic Club and Les
Femmes Fatales Bridge Club.
Memorials may be made to
C.S. Hamilton Scholarship Fund,
Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1223
Laney-Walker Blvd., Augusta, GA
30901.
The family will receive friends
from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Dent©s
Funeral Home.
Gives ode to lat$ Augusta educator
With the recent passing of
Willarena Lamar Williams, Au
gusta lost a great principal and a
great person. ... After her stay at
A. R. Johnson Health Professions
and Engineering High School, she
became the standard by which
succeeding
principals
were
judged. She and her husband, Tracy, raised seven children all of
whom went on to business or pro
fessional careers,
n
"She treated the students like
they were her children," said one
teacher with 30 years of experi
ence, who noted, "She©s the best
principal I ever had."
Whenever it was raining at the
end of a school day, I was told
Mrs. Williams would remind the
students over the intercom to
"walk between the rain drops."
Tom Hunter
Augusta