Mary Frances (Obleton) Williams, went home to be with the Lord October 25, 2020, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The youngest of four siblings, she was born January 2, 1932 in Muskogee County, Georgia. She graduated from Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia, and pursued education in teaching at Fort Valley State University (formerly College). She also worked for the USO, where she met her husband, Frank Williams, a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. Mary and Frank wed on November 14, 1954, and were married for 58 years.
She served at the Mother Mary Mission and a local hospital before moving with her husband to New Jersey, where she raised her children and worked as a preschool teacher as part of the new HeadStart, a Newark Board of Education program. Mary was gentle, caring, and also firm when she needed to be, and she gave and commanded respect. Her gifts complimented her as a teacher throughout her life, not only in the school, but also in her everyday life, where she taught by word and example. She possessed God-given wisdom, well-styled spunk, dignity, and grace. Mary loved to sing and was known for her beautiful voice, and she would sing for various occasions early and later in life. Also an excellent cook, she prepared many healthful meals for her appreciative recipients. She displayed her love to her family as a faithful wife, a mother who enjoyed spending time with her kids, and a giving, supportive, and comforting grandmother. She was also a mother to everyone she met.
Mary made the wonderful decision to accept Jesus as her Savior. She served Him in the choir at Union Baptist Church (Bloomfield, NJ) and Crossroads Baptist Church (Lakehurst, NJ). At home, she could often be found reading her Bible, and was known for her respect for the Lord’s ways.
She is survived by her loving children, Faye (Neal) Coleman of Brick, NJ, June Williams of Manchester, NJ, Audrey (Terry) McGuire of Pittsburgh, PA, and also Dorothy Knight of Jamaica, Ben (Virginia) Williams of Edison, NJ, and Sonya Moretti of Georgia; as well as by many loving grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends, and church family. She will truly be missed.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, November 5, 2020 4:00pm – 8:00pm at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 145 St. Catherine Blvd., Toms River. A funeral service will be offered Friday, November 6, 2020 11:00am at Crossroads Baptist Church, Lakehurst, NJ. Burial to follow at Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com.
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