Jessie Williams

Jessie R. Williams, 96, peacefully went to be with her Lord Jesus on Sunday, January 16, 2022. A visitation will be 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Tuesday, January 25, 2022 in the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 Hwy 277 South.  A funeral service will follow beginning at 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 25, 2022 in the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Jessie was born June 30, 1925 in Collinsville, Alabama to Ewell B. Raynes and Mattie Cook Raynes. She was raised with her family in northern Alabama until she moved to Trion Georgia at the age of 15. Jessie married Vernon Aaron in March of 1942 and gave birth to her daughter, Linda Aaron Vines on February 16, 1943. With the help of her parents, Jessie started working in the glove mill of Riegel Textile and later moved to the third shift in the weave room of the cotton mill to support Linda and herself. She worked over 20 years at the mill.

In 1964, Jessie married Carl Williams of Trion, Georgia. She embraced Carls’ children and grandchildren as her own.

When asked recently who she was most looking forward to seeing in heaven, Jessie said, “Mama, Daddy, and Carl.” Throughout her life, Jessie was a faithful member of a local Baptist Church and attended services as long as she was physically able. Most of her church time was at Trion First Baptist Church where she taught 4-5 year olds, was a member of the choir, and actively engaged in Women’s Missionary Union. She prepared many meals for church families and neighbors, as well as hosting visiting ministers and missionaries. Jessie also enjoyed cooking, sewing, and numerous crafts. She also mastered the cell phone enough to keep up with her family and friends, whom she loved dearly and thought about often.

Jessie frequently marveled at how big her family became. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ewell and Mattie Raynes; her husband, Carl Williams; his children, Carl Williams, Jr. and Nancy Williams Stewart; her brothers, Roy Tidmore, Russell Raynes, and Euclid Raynes; and her sisters, Willie Tidmore Carson, and Audrey Raynes.

Jessie is survived by her daughter, Linda Aaron Vines (Tom); grandchildren, Les Vines (Lisa), Lauri Vines Johnson (Ray), Lance Vines (Cristy), Carl Williams III (Debbie), Amy Williams Lacher, Leigh Williams, and Nina Stewart Micale (Paul); 28 great grandchildren; and 15 great great grandchildren and one on the way.

If you desire, in lieu of flowers you may make a donation in Jessie’s honor to: Trion First Baptist Church, Cancer Society, or Hendrick Hospice Care Facility on Pine Street, Abilene, Texas.