Shirley Marie Williams' Obituary
Shirley Marie Williams of Austell, GA, formerly of San Pedro and Santa Monica, CA was called home to God’s kingdom on September 25, 2015. She is the beloved wife of Phillip (Phil) T. Williams. They were married for 46 years and raised five children together.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Phillip T. Williams of Austell, GA and her children, Charlene Comeaux of Wilmington, CA; Robert Kern of Pocatello, Idaho; Phyllis Williams-Thompson of Springfield, MA; Angela Williams of Austell, GA; her son-in-law, Chad Thompson of Springfield, MA and nephew, Jeffrey and his wife, Marilyn Doyle. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Robert (BJ) Weathington; Antoinnae, Kristian and Hayley Comeaux; Dwan, Anna-Lee and Catherine Thompson; Andrew and Cullen Williams and one great-grandson, Jamal Thompson. In her extended family, she is also survived by two sisters, Geraldine Allen and Patricia Jones of CA; three sister-in-laws, Brenda Sue Miller of CA, Carla Whitlock of MD, and Rheda Simmons of SC; a brother-in-law, Thomas Whitlock Jr. of (KY) and other relatives.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Rosie Wade and father, George Allen; grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Allen; son, Stanley Dale Kern; one sister, Barbara Richardson; a grandson, Shannon Weathington; two brothers, Charles and George Allen and her mother-in-law, Rheda Whitlock and other relatives.
Shirley grew up in Santa Monica, CA quickly learning the talents of her father and became a small business entrepreneur. She started her own floral and craft business and became an avid vendor at area flea markets. Shirley was a self-determined and independent woman. While raising her five children, she worked toward earning an associate degree in legal studies and business administration and simultaneously worked as a housewife, small business owner, college student and third shift administrative clerk for the Veteran’s Administration.
She also found time to volunteer her leadership skills with her children’s PTA, the Girl Scouts, and the Boy Scouts and at her church, Olivet Lutheran. She also volunteered at Fort MacArthur Airforce base in San Pedro, CA; where she started one of the first after-school programs for military families, including developing a program in contemporary dance and homework tutoring. Later she became one of the first African American woman presidents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Synod to represent her church district. Shirley taught her children and grandchildren early in life about the importance of education, the arts and particularly about giving back to your community. Often, she would host community dinners, pancake breakfasts and deliver fully-prepared Thanksgiving meals with her family to community in Los Angeles.
Shirley was a family and community advocate and set the needs of others as her highest priority. In her lifetime, she advocated for a quality education for her son, Stanley, who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
She and her husband, Phil enjoyed taking weekend vacations together, collecting antiques, shopping at flea markets and spending time with their children and grandchildren. They take pride in what they have accomplished together and the values they have taught their family. Shirley will be truly missed—an amazing, beautiful woman.
Candlelight Prayer Service will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Nativity, 2450 Clay Road Southwest, Austell, GA 30106, on Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m. and a Memorial Service with Holy Communion on Saturday, October 17 at 11 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Nativity Lutheran church and reception to follow. All facilities are handicap accessible. Memorial donations may be made in Shirley’s honor to the National Kidney Foundation.
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