Vera Mae Williams
Click to Enlarge Photo
Click to Enlarge Photo
August 25th, 1932 - November 11th, 2024
From: Alton, MO
Visitation: 1pm-2pm Saturday, November 16, 2024
Clary Funeral Home - Alton, MO
Funeral: 2pm Saturday, November 16, 2024
Clary Funeral Home - Alton, MO
Burial: Many Springs Cemetery - Alton, MO
Vera Mae Williams, the middle child and youngest daughter of William Anderson and Beulah Patton Williams was born on August 25, 1932, near Shirley, Arkansas in Van Buren County. She departed this life, November 11, 2024 at the age of ninety-two at Shady Oaks Healthcare Facility in Thayer, Missouri.

Surviving Vera are her sister; Ena Williams Oliver of Galesburg, Illinois, and two brothers; Roger Williams (Eleanor), Dubois, Wyoming, and Wendell Williams (Rebecca), Alton, Missouri. An aunt, Juanita Ferrell of Springdale, Arkansas also survives. Other survivors are her nieces; Judith Miller, Faith Burdick, Elizabeth Norvell, Jo Andrews, Pearl Martin, Charis Ferryman, Sarah Russback, Alice Mills, and Martha Williams. Nephews who survive are Martin Locke, Stephen Locke, Jeremy Oliver, Charles Locke, John Williams, Shawn Oliver, Alan Locke, and George Williams. Vera is survived by thirty-six great nieces and nephews, forty-five great-great nieces and nephews, one great-great-great niece, and numerous cousins and friends.

Preceding Vera in death were her parents; Anderson and Beulah Williams; her sister, Veda Williams Locke; two brothers-in-law; Gordon Oliver and Russell Locke; two great-nephews; Dustin Christopher Locke and Noah Anderson Williams, and a great-great niece; Anna Elizabeth Bubendorf.

At the age of five, Vera’s family moved to a 160 acre farm in the Lula community near Alton, Missouri in Oregon county. Arrival at their new home, the Livingston place, was on Thanksgiving Day 1937. The family included her sisters, Ena and Veda. Two brothers, Roger and Wendell, were born in Missouri.

Vera attended grade school at Oak Hill and graduated from Alton High School in 1950. She completed her undergraduate studies at Southwest Baptist College, receiving an Associate of Arts degree and Ouachita Baptist College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. Vera completed graduate studies at the Carver School of
Missions and Social Work, Louisville, Kentucky where she received a Master of Arts degree in 1960.

Work experiences during college years included working as a car hop in Kansas City and as a fuse tester at Bussman Fuse in St. Louis. She was employed summers by the Home Mission Board, working with the Spanish speaking population in San Antonio and El Paso, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also worked one summer in Johnson City, Tennessee.

At the age of eleven, Vera accepted Christ as her Savior during revival services at the Antioch Baptist Church in Lula, Missouri. Throughout her life, Vera sought God’s will to direct her. She felt a calling in home missions. Her first permanent employment was as a secretary and clerk for Holston Baptist Association, Johnson City, Tennessee.

Throughout college, Vera traveled by bus or train. While living in Johnson City, she took driving lessons, bought her first car, a 1964 Ford Falcon, got her license, and hit the road! The Ford Falcon had a hard life. Vera had many adventures with the Ford Falcon such as damage inflicted by drag racers, damage inflicted by her dad backing into it, and damage inflicted by her mother during driving lessons. Don Barton’s Body Shop reaped benefits from the last two incidents.

Fond memories always existed of her time in Johnson City. Vera loved God’s beautiful mountains in east Tennessee where the azaleas and rhododendrons grew wild. After nine years in Johnson City, Vera wished to move closer to family. She soon received a job offer from the Baptist Church Training Department in Jefferson City, Missouri. With the change of jobs to Jefferson City, Vera also traded her 1964 Falcon for a new 1969 Ford Falcon and bought a home. She worked for many years for the Church Training Department and later for the Missouri Division of Insurance. She retired in 1995, moved back to the family farm at Lula, and purchased a new double wide mobile home.

Vera was a kind person, quiet by nature, with a nice smile, and of high moral character. She was a serious individual and put forth her best ability to succeed in life. Wherever she lived, she would join a Southern Baptist church and become an active member. She assisted in Vacation Bible Schools, taught Sunday School classes, sang in the church choir, served as church clerk, helped in church camps and was a faithful, committed Christian. Vera was a member of the Many Springs Baptist Church at the time of her death.

Vera’s health began to deteriorate, and in 2015 it was necessary for her to leave the farm and move to Shepherd’s View assisted living. Two years later, Vera moved to Shady Oaks Healthcare. She earned the respect of her caretakers with her kind disposition and gentle smile. The family thanks all the caretakers, including Three Rivers Hospice, who made her life more comfortable. Vera will be missed by all her family and friends.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the Clary Funeral Home in Alton, Missouri. Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. with Bob Wiggs and Alan Locke officiating. Interment will be in the Many Springs Cemetery, with Vera’s nieces and nephews serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Many Springs Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Clary Funeral Home, Alton, Missouri.

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