Mother Otelia Williams

Mother Otelia Williams was born January 26, 1934, in Marianna, Arkansas to the union of Leroy Lanier Sr. and Searcy Lee Puckett-Lanier.

Otelia accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior at an early age and remained steadfast throughout her life. She enjoyed reading and discussing the Bible daily. Talking about the Lord and singing were her favorite past times. Her favorite Gospel group was the Willimas Brothers and her favorite song by them was, “Prayer made the difference.”

Otelia was a loving, caring and spiritual mother, dedicated to God and her family. She leaves to cherish her loving memory, her children: Alonza Thomas, Kent Williams, Dorothy Monroe, Mary (Daryell) Riley, Murline Williams and Annette Williams; sisters: Othello Jamiuson, Oneal Jackson, Oline Lanier, Earsie Lanier and Merlene Arnold; grandchildren: Tausha (Tim) Soppe, Terrence (Tina) Thomas, Damien Hurt, Erica Williams, Veronica Williams, Valessa Williams, Carla Fields, McKenna Williams, Frederick Monroe, Angela Monroe, Jamaine Monroe, Amanda Williams, Richard Randolph, Alisha Williams, Shemeika Riley, Travis Williams, Anthony Lewis, Christopher Lewis, Jeffery Lewis, Spencer Lewis, Rapheal Williams, Shemeika Williams, Jarvis Evans, Jawuan Evans, Jessica Williams, John (Takisha) Williams, Gloria Jones, Carol, Jackson, Carl Jones, and Amaris Lee; a host of great grandchildren whom she loved with all her heart and soul, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors, church members and caregivers.

Otelia was preceded in death by her parents: Leroy Sr. and Searcy Lanier; husband, Sylvester Williams Sr., children: Amanda Williams, Betty Williams, Cleaster Grayson, and Sylvester Williams, Jr.; brothers: Leroy “Tom” Lanier, Tillman Lanier, and William Lanier; sisters: Odesa Lanier, Searcy Lanier and Ophelia Brewer; grandchildren: Antonia Lee Williams and Unika Williams.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mother Otelia Williams, please visit our floral store.