Nancy Lavale Williams was born February 4, 1954 to Perry and Nancy Cleo Williams. As a Gainesville native, Lavale was very proud to have attended Fair Street School and E.E. Butler High School. In 1972, she graduated from Gainesville High School. Lavale served in the U.S. Army, and she worked several years for the Georgia Department of Transportation. Lavale enjoyed cooking, and the family always looked forward to her many specialties during holiday gatherings. She took great joy in her nephews requesting their favorite dishes. Nancy was a talented seamstress, and she made clothing for her younger sisters including a prom dress. Crocheting was also a hobby, and Lavale made beautiful blankets for her grandchildren and scarves, jewelry, purses, sweaters and accessories for family and friends. Nancy could be found weekday mornings spending time with her mother and maintaining her parents’ yard. Mrs. Westbrooks would often joke that she worked for the city, because she would sweep the sidewalk daily. She loved flowers, and if she saw one that she liked in an abandoned neighborhood yard, she would add it to her flowerbed. Nancy lived in a senior community, and she helped her neighbors by taking mail to their front door, taking their trash to and from the curb, running errands and explaining notifications to them. She was also the unofficial neighborhood watch lady. Lavale’s greatest time was spent with her loving daughter, Ashley, and her beloved “MY” grandchildren. She enjoyed teaching them to plant and watch flowers and vegetables grow. The grandkids enjoyed her entertaining stories about the “good old days”. She loved attending their activities, but she was sometimes banned by them for cheering very loudly and using the nicknames that she had given them. She stressed the importance of perfect attendance and education to her grandchildren. Walks from her home to her parents home were often lessons about nature, clouds, animals, colors, directions and sounds. Lavale was preceded in death by her father, Perry, and her brothers, Jeffery and Dennis. She is survived by her mother, Nancy Cleo; daughter, Ashley (Donovan); grandchildren: Darius, Alasha, Donovan, Jr., Ashlynn, Devontae and Aniyah; siblings: Perry, Sharon, Janice, Charlene; Godson/nephew: Anthony “Pooh” (Monique);nephews, Perry III, Bershad and Jordan; nieces, Brittany, Joy and Jayla; grandnephews, Demari, Amarrion, Samuel, Bershad, Jr. and Langston; grandnieces, Crystal, Laila, and Aubrey; great-grandnephew, Dior; special friend, Yasmin Thompson and cousins, family and friends. The visitation for Nancy will be held Thursday January 27th at Wimberly Funeral Home between the hours of 12-8 p.m. The family will receive friends between the hours of 5-7 p.m. Ms. Nancy's Celebration of Life will be held on Friday January 28th at the hour of 1 pm at Hillside Chapel. Professional Service Entrusted to Wimberly Funeral Home.
