Ann Allen Williams

Ann Allen Williams born June 9, 1932, in Gainesville, Georgia, died July 25, 2015 in her apartment at Smoky Springs Retirement Community, Gainesville. Ann was a graduate of Lyman Hall High School, Gainesville; Berry College, Rome, Georgia; and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, George and Elsie Allen and brother Leroy Allen all of Gainesville.

Three summer vacations during college and seminary years were spent as a Baptist missionary in small south Texas towns.  Upon seminary graduation, she returned to Texas to begin a 30 year teaching career at San Antonio’s Mexican Baptist Bible Institute, now Baptist University of the Americas.  For forty-eight years, Ann was the volunteer interpreter for deaf persons at San Antonio’s First Baptist Church.  She retired to Gainesville in 2003 and moved to Smoky Springs in 2013.

Survivors in addition to husband of 57 years, Willis Williams, include daughters Rhesa and husband Steven Hecker of West New York City, New Jersey; Melea Williams of  Wilmington, North Carolina; granddaughters Sarah and Larisa Benton of  Wilmington; and grandson, Wesley Williams and wife Erin of Oxford, North Carolina, and their daughter, Olivia.  Other survivors are sister, Virginia Cornelison and brother, Roger Allen and wife Carolyn, all of Gainesville; and brother, George and wife Chris of Hiawassee, Georgia.  There are many nieces, nephews, and cousins in north Georgia and beyond.