Helen L. Williams' Obituary
Helen L. Williams, passed away Sunday, June 11, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Born July 8, 1930, in Mayfield, Kentucky, Helen was graduated from Mayfield High School and then, on May 29th, 1948, she eloped with Roy D. Williams, Jr., and they were married in Corinth, Miss. Helen attended Lambuth College, in Jackson, Tennessee, until she and Roy returned to live in Mayfield. Later, when Roy was ordained a minister, she faithfully supported him as they moved from place to place, as directed by the United Methodist Church. After spending a few years at his first appointment, in Maury City, Tennessee, they moved to Memphis, where Helen helped Roy as he served as an Associate Minister at Madison Heights UMC. Then, in 1963, Helen, along with their children Carol and Dee, helped Roy found and become charter members of Frayser Heights UMC, in Memphis. There, Helen directed the choir, in addition to a multitude of other duties involved in starting a new church. When they moved to Wesleyan Hills UMC, Helen picked up where she left off and became the choir director there, too. During that same time, Helen became the Curator of The Money Museum, in the Union Planters Bank, in downtown Memphis. Roy and Helen later served at Millington UMC, where she made many new, lifelong friends; and then in 1986, they moved to Trinity UMC, in Memphis, where they also made many wonderful friends. After Roy retired in 1991, they moved back to Millington, and were never happier. She entertained, spent time with family, worked in the yard, and she and Roy enjoyed traveling and vacationing, seeing shows at the theatre, and generally spending their days doing things together. Then in 2006, to be closer to their daughter, Helen and Roy moved to Collierville. Here again, Helen made many new wonderful friends, hosted family gatherings, cooked, delivered cookies and other treats, and got her hands dirty making their yard beautiful. Helen enjoyed life and exuded love. She was predeceased by husband of 67 years, Roy, the love of her life, her parents Helen (James) and Lonnie L. Lamkin, and by her brother James L. Lamkin, and his wife Jean. She is survived by her daughter Carol Hall (Bill), of Collierville, and her son Roy D. “Dee” Williams III, of Germantown, her nephew James L. Lamkin, Jr. (Betty), of Creal Springs, Illinois, grandchildren Rachel H. Baronowski (Chad), of Collierville, Ruth H. McFall (Wayne), of Collierville, Lauren W. Quinnell, of Fayetteville, Georgia, Roy D. “Jett” Williams IV (Stacey), of Franklin, Tennessee, and Llana Dee Williams, of Germantown, plus eight great grandchildren, Hunter McFall, Bekah McFall, Austin Baronowski, Nathan Quinnell, Katelyn Quinnell, Jax Cataldo, Holden Williams, and Harper Williams. “…for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Book of Ruth 1:16 “And now abideth faith, hope, love these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13 The family would like to thank the wonderful Dr. Gordon Kraus for his special care and concern that she received over the years. The family would also like to say a special thank you to the staff at St. Francis Hospital, both on the fifth floor and the tenth floor, along with the staff of Crossroads Hospice, for the extraordinary and loving care she received there at the hospital. The family will be receiving friends from 10:30 to 11:30 on Thursday, June 15th, at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The service will follow at 11:30, and interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery.The services have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life….Behind the Stone Wall.”
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