Bettie Joyce Williams

On June 25th, 1944, a bouncing baby girl named Bettie Joyce Bailey was born on David Avenue on the Southside in Bessemer, Alabama. Bettie's mother Mrs. Elizabeth Young served on the usher board at the Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church upon her birth. Bettie was the youngest of her four siblings, Allen Jr., Mary Etta, James Edward, and Arthur Lee Bailey.

Her parents, Allen and Elizabeth Young Bailey were blessed by her joyful smile and big bright eyes. Soon, Bettie and her siblings would be raised by their aunt, Jimmie Lou Brown due to their mother's untimely passing.

As a young child, Bettie confessed hope in Christ and was baptized in 1956 at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Bessemer Alabama. She would spend the remainder of her life at Shady Grove and serve as Vice President of the Church Missionary Society, Assistant Director of the Senior Ministry, and become an active and devoted member of the Jefferson County District Missionary Baptist Association until her health declined. While in elementary school Bettie moved to the Brickyard Hill neighborhood. As a resident, she made lasting friendships and lifelong relationships.

Bettie was educated in the Bessemer City School District where she attended Charles A. Hard Elementary School, Paul Lawrence Dunbar School, and Abrams High School.

After graduating from Abrams High School in 1962, Bettie attended Lawson State Community College. Soon afterward she would meet the love of her life, a nice guy from the northside of Bessemer named President Williams Jr., whom she affectionately would call "Prez." President and Bettie married on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 1965 at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church. To this union two children were born, Stanley Drake and Sonia Patrice.

In 1981 Bettie was employed by the University of Birmingham, Alabama Hospital in the Dietary and Nutrition Department. While there she would receive many accolades and praises for her pleasant demeanor and kindred spirit. She retired from UAB in 2004 after serving patients for twenty-three years. After retirement, Bettie would continue to be a servant for GOD. She worked as a child care provider at Milk and Honey Daycare, participated in the Brickyard Hill Neighborhood Association, and serve as a clerk at the voting polls.

Bettie was preceded in death by her parents Allen and Elizabeth Bailey, her aunt Mrs. Jimmie Lou Wilson, her sister, Mary Etta Goings, her brothers, Allen Jr., James Edward, and Arthur Lee Bailey, and her grandson, Justin Wade.

Sister Bettie Joyce Williams leaves to cherish her memories: her love of fifty-nine years, President Williams Jr. of Bessemer, Alabama; a devoted son, Stanley Williams (Lillie) of Pinson, Alabama; a loving and caring daughter, Sonia Williams of Bessemer, Alabama; a granddaughter, Chatney Monet Williams of Birmingham, Alabama; a grandson, Stanley Drake Lucus of Birmingham, Alabama; special sisters-friends, Edith Jewel Waters of Brighton, Alabama and Lottie Mitchell of Bessemer, Alabama; a first cousin, Loretta Daniels of Toomsuba, Mississippi; a special nephew-son, Jimmy Goings; sisters-in-law, Linda Bailey of Pleasant Grove, Alabama, Alice Bailey of Birmingham, Alabama and Georgia Cole (Bobby) of Bessemer, Alabama; brothers-in-law, Alexander Williams of Birmingham, Alabama and Joe Lee Walker (Marcy) of Birmingham, Alabama; her special adopted families, godchildren of Brickyard Hill Neighorhood, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.