Willie Mae Meadows' Obituary
Willie Mae “Bill” Whitfield Meadows was born in Ray City, Georgia on August 28, 1921 and died in Memphis, TN on June 10, 2018 at the age of 96.One of eight children born to William and Amanda (Potts) Whitfield, Bill, as she was known to family and friends, grew up strong and spirited on her family farm in rural Georgia. Although she only went to school through 7th grade, Bill was a bright and hard-working spitfire with an adventurous streak, and at 18 she followed her brother Hoke to Detroit, MI, to work at his donut shop.There, Bill met her husband Grady Lee Meadows. As a young married couple, they learned the bakery business together at various donut shops in Detroit and later, Chicago.After a time, they brought their experience back to Grady’s adopted hometown of Memphis, TN, where they owned and operated Golden Glaze Bakery & Donut Shop at 3064 Thomas in Frayser, a popular spot for the throng of International Harvester and Firestone plant workers in the area.Grady made donuts and Bill kept the books until Grady’s death in 1968.Afterwards, Bill continued to run the bakery alongside their son. She retired from the business in 1985.Besides being a business woman, Bill was a world-traveler (with her beloved sister Azeail by her side), a Halloween enthusiast, an avid mystery reader and watcher (pretty sure she had a life-long crush on Perry Mason), a fishing fanatic, a game-lover (Bingo and Aggravation were two of her favorites), a competitive Easter egg hunter, a hallowed home cook and a woman of faith.Whether she was known to you as Bill or Mama or Grandma, she will be remembered by all for her vivacious spirit and resilient nature.Bill is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters and brothers, her husband, son Arnold Meadows and daughter Carol Huggins. She leaves behind daughters Jan Hollingsworth and Sherry McIntosh, daughter-in-law Geri Meadows, as well as a wealth of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.The family will receive friends at 10:30 a.m. and a service celebrating her life will follow at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 13 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A private burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.Arrangements 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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