Annie Laurie Beckham Williams

Published 3:26 pm Saturday, March 29, 2014

Annie Laurie Beckham Williams , 98, died peacefully at home March 29, 2014. She was born September 21, 1915 in Sandersville, Georgia and moved to Selma with her family three years later. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Dr. Jonathan Richard Williams Sr., her parents Mary Rosaline Cook Beckham and Joseph Carson Beckham, her sister Elizabeth Beckham Nation, and her grandson Douglas Michael Williams.

She is survived by her sons Dr. Jonathan Richard Williams Jr. (Lois) of Glenville, North Carolina .and Joseph Beckham Williams Sr. (Lynn) of Selma. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jonathan Richard Williams III. (Laurie) and Elizabeth Williams Rogers (Robert) of Dallas, Texas, Gary Edwin Williams (Yvonne) of Niceville, Florida, and Kirk Andrew Williams of Seaside, Florida, Joseph Beckham Williams Jr. (Jessica) of Pike Road, Alabama, Barbara Williams Sheffield (David) of Grayton Beach, Florida, Jonathan Bellinger Williams of Jackson, Mississippi, 15 great-grand children and three nephews and a niece.

Mrs. Williams was a graduate of Selma High School (Tremont Street) and graduated from Alabama College (University of Montevallo) with a Bachelor of Science in 1937. She taught Public Speaking and coached the Debate Team in the consolidated high school of Cuthbert, Georgia. She had made plans to enter Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, but an attack of appendicitis put her in the Vaughan Memorial Hospital in Selma. Her future husband was a physician at the hospital and it was during this time that she met him, having dinner with him the night she was dismissed from the hospital.

Mrs. Williams later returned to school and received a Master of Arts (MA) in 1972 and an Education Specialist Degree (EDS) in Counseling and Guidance in 1974 from the University of Alabama. She was employed as a counselor by the Department of Youth Services and the Selma City School System, specializing in children with learning disabilities.

She was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Selma. She was an avid student of the Bible and taught Bible in Sunday School for 75 years. She was involved with the Women’s Mission Union (WMU) and served on various committees.

Mrs. Williams was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for almost 54 years and served as Chaplain for 12 years before becoming Chaplain Emeritus. She was a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century. She was also a member of the Selma Charity League, the Trellis Garden Club, and the Selma Country Club where she enjoyed playing golf in her healthier years.

Mrs. Williams served on the Board of Directors of the Joseph T. Smtherman Historic Building, becoming president in September, 1994. She was instrumental in establishing it as the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum and served as president until a few years ago. She worked tirelessly collecting memorabilia to refurbish the museum and soliciting donations for preservation of the building.

She enjoyed reading, especially mysteries, and painting. She generously shared many of her artworks with her family.

The family wishes to give special thanks and appreciation to her faithful caregivers: Dawn Morris, Laura Grossman, Gloria Hill, Pam Rollan, and Jean Massey, and also to Dr. Julian P. Howell Jr. and Cahaba Hospice.

Pall Bearers will be her grandsons Jonathan Richard Williams III, Gary Edwin Williams, Kirk Andrew Williams, Joseph Beckham Williams Jr. and Jonathan Bellinger Williams, great-grandson Joseph Beckham Williams III, and William Milam Turner Jr. and William Milam Turner III. Honorary Pall Bearers are John David Sheffield and Robert Lee Rogers.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church with a private interment at New Live Oak Cemetery, with Dr. Jerry Light officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church or the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum.

Please visit www.lawrencebrownservice.com to make online condolences to the family.