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GWiffarena

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Saturday, May 1,1999 1:00 P.M.
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Augusta, Georgia
* * *
Reverend Otis Moss, III ~ Presiding

On October 30, 1932, in Augusta, Georgia, the late Peter William Lamar and Serena James Lamar named their second born daughter, "Willarene," a unique amalgamation of their own names. Somewhere along the way, her name became Willarena. To family, friends and colleagues, Willarena was variously and affectionately known as Willie, Mama, Baby Sister, MotherRena, Grandmom, and Godmother.
She enjoyed a spirited and joyful childhood on Savannah Road in Augusta, growing up amidst a large and loving family of parents, sisters, aunts, uncles, a grandmother, "kissing" cousins and friends. Her parents instilled in her a strong religious faith, a zeal for education, and an appreciation of music, literature, science, fresh peach cobbler, family celebrations and green plants.
She attended Haines Normal Institute in Augusta, beginning in the primary class at age 4 and graduating as her high school class valedictorian, hi 1952, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors in Biology from Talledega College in Talladega, Alabama and in 1954, a Master of Science Degree in Biology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She also earned an Education Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from Augusta State University.
Willarena began her professional career as a Bidlogy Instructor at Spelman College in Atlanta. She later joined the Richmond County School System, serving as a Classroom Teacher, Gifted Program Instructor, and Curriculum Coordinator of Science and Health. Her 30 year career as an educator concluded at A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering High School, where she served as Principal.
In the Augusta community, she was an active member of a variety of religious, social, civic, and professional organizations reflecting her varied interests. She was a faithful member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, member of the History Committee, and the Red Rose Auxiliary. In addition, in her later years, she sang in the R.A. Dent Gospel Choir.
Willarena was a staunch advocate for children and co-chartered the Augusta Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., Augusta Womens Civic Club, and Les Femmes Fatalea Bridge Club. She served on the Augusta Opera Association Board of Directors, the Augusta-Richmond County Museum Board of Trustees, the Augusta-Richmond County Human Relations Commission, the Care Management Consultants Board, the Citizens Advisory Board of the Augusta Police Department, and as Past President of the Richmond County Principals Association.

0f

Processional............................................... "Great Is Thy faithfulness"

Scriptures

Old Testament - Psalm 121 - Rev. Inez Smith New Testament - John 3:10-21 - Rev. Nathaniel Irvin

Prayer .......................................................... Rev. Otis Moss, III

Solo ........................................................... Ms. Patricia Parrish "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"

Acknowledgements ............................................ Mrs. Nellie Hampton

Reflections

Ms. Edith Calhoun Mrs. Carolyne Lamar Jordan Mrs. Dollie Williams Banks

Solo ........................................................... Ms. Patricia Parrish "Sweet, Sweet Spirit"

Eulogy ............................................................ Rev. Kip Banks

Remarks & Benediction ................................................... Rev. Otis Moss, III

Recessional ............................................. "He Looked Beyond My Fault"

Interment ................................................... Cedar Grove Cemetery

Willarena was truly loving and giving, and her generosity and thoughtfulness were well-known. She always remembered birthdays, holidays, and special occasions with a gift or card. One of her greatest delights was sending packages of "goodies" to her grandchildren across the country. She also immensely enjoyed her personal hobbies including reading, growing plants, and especially writing. She maintained journals, wrote long reflective letters to her family and composed many speeches that she delivered at churches and civic programs.
She was married on June 7, 1956, in Augusta Georgia to Tracy Evans Williams, Jr. From this union, sprang a large and loving family that was the center of her life. She passed on her ideals and a commitment to excellence to her appreciative children. A woman of tranquil grace, abundant talents and unending goodwill, she served as a rock, a moral compass, counselor, and nurturer to her family members, friends, students, professional colleagues, and community associates.
Willarena is survived by: her devoted husband, Tracy Evans Williams, Jr.; seven children, Tracy Evans Williams, HI, Peter W. L. Williams, Serena Maria Williams, Nita Williams Walker, Mayme Williams Nwaneri, Dollie Williams Banks and Robert W. J. Williams; seven grandchildren, Justin P. Williams, Sharon E. Williams, Tracy E. Williams, IV, Serena M. Walker, David J.A. Walker, Carolyne M. Banks and Margaret K. Banks; three sisters, Julia Lamar Langston, Carolyne Lamar Jordan and Claire Lamar Carey; an aunt, Juanita James Johnson; two sisters-in-law, {Catherine W. Jones and Dollie W. Robertson; one daughter-in-law, Lisa H. Williams; three sons-in-law, Wendell N. Walker, Kip B. Banks and Uchenna R. Nwaneri; cousins, Edward Fairish, Jr., William James, Martina James Bryant, Jean James Caldwell, Jacquelyn James Minor and Rosilyn James Martin; nieces and nephews, Lisa Powell Scipio, June Powell, Sonia Jones Wright, Lara Jordan James, Samuel Lamar Jordan, Stephanie Robertson and Roderick Lamar Carey; brothers-in-law, Leroy Langston, Lawrence Jordan, Harmon Carey and Quincy Robertson; and a host of godchildren, other relatives and friends.
When you start on yourjourney to Ithaca then pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
Then pray that the road is long, that the summer mornings are many, that you will enter ports seenfor thefirst time, With such pleasure, with such joy!
Always keep Ithaca fixed in your mind, To arrive there is your ultimate goal. But not to hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it lastfor long years; and even to anchor at the isle when you are old, rich with all that you have gained on the way, not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage, Without her you would never have take the road.
From Ithaca By Carafy

0f rers
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. the Links, Inc.
Jack and Jill of America Augusta Womens Civic Club Haines Alumni Association
Red Rose Auxiliary Junior Girls Sunday School Class
R. A. Dent Gospel Choir Les Femmes Fatales Bridge Club Richmond County Retired Educators Association
cpott&carers
Mr. Thomas Blanchard Mr. James Carter, IV Mr. Marcus Dickerson
Mr. David James Mr. Samuel Lamar Jordan
Mr. Mason Johnson Mr. W. Terrance Merritt
Mr. Alfred Reed Mr. Edward Tarver Mr. Tracy Wright
Mr. Alvin Blount Mrs. Judith Ruffin
******
Appreciation
The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to all for the many expressions of love, concern, and sympathy extended during our time of sorrow. We pray Gods continued blessings upon each of you.
~r4l&toric **Ueni 6 930 DAntignac Street ~ Augusta, Georgia

JVu0us

Mrs. Willarena Williams, retired school principal

Mrs. Willarena Lamar Wil

liams, of 3110 Fir Court, died

Tuesday, April 27, 1999, at Univer

sity Hospital. She was 66.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m.

Saturday at Tabernacle Baptist

Church with the Rev. Otis B. Moss

III officiating. Burial will be in

Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Mrs. Williams, a lifelong resi

dent of Augusta, had retired as

principal from A.R. Johnson

Health Professions and Engineer

ing Magnet School. She was a sci

ence teacher at several area

schools and was on the board of

trustees at Augusta-Richmond

County Museum. She was a mem

ber of Tabernacle Baptist Church,

where she was a Sunday school

teacher and a member of the Red

Rose Auxiliary and the R.A. Dent Mrs. Willarena Lamar Williams

Gospel Choir.

"Mrs. Williams was a wonder N.C., Carolyne Lamar Jordan,

ful lady who did a lot for our com Memphis, Tenn., and Claire La-

munity. She was well known in mar Carey, Wilmington, Del.; and

both the black and white commu seven grandchildren.

nities," said Beverly Barnhardt, Honorary pallbearers will be

principal of John S. Davidson Fine members of the Red Rose Auxilia

Arts Magnet School and a friend ry, Haines Alumni Association,

of Mrs. Williams.

R.A. Dent Gospel Choir, Junior

Survivors include her husband, Girls Sunday School Class, Alpha

Tracy E. Williams Jr.; three sons, Kappa Alpha Sorority, The Links

Tracy E. Williams III, White Inc., Jack and Jill of America, Au

Plains, N.Y., Peter W.L. Wil gusta Womens Civic Club and Les

liams, Burke, Va., and Robert Femmes Fatales Bridge Club.

W.J. Williams, Washington, D.C.; Memorials may be made to

four daughters, Serena M. Wil C.S. Hamilton Scholarship Fund,

liams, Louisville, Ky., Nita Wil Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1223

liams Walker, Cincinnati, Mayme Laney-Walker Blvd., Augusta, GA

Williams Nwaneri, Silver Spring, 30901.

Md., and Dollie Williams Banks, The family will receive friends

Mitchellville, Md.; three sisters, from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Dents

Julia Lamar Langston, Madison, Funeral Home.

Gives ode to lat$ Augusta educator

With the recent passing of

Willarena Lamar Williams, Au

gusta lost a great principal and a

great person. ... After her stay at

A. R. Johnson Health Professions

and Engineering High School, she

became the standard by which

succeeding principals were

judged. She and her husband, Tra-

cy, raised seven children all of

whom went on to business or pro

fessional careers,

n

"She treated the students like they were her children," said one teacher with 30 years of experi ence, who noted, "Shes the best principal I ever had."
Whenever it was raining at the end of a school day, I was told Mrs. Williams would remind the students over the intercom to "walk between the rain drops."
Tom Hunter
Augusta