Mary Elizabeth Kelley Williamson

Sunset Memorial Park
Funeral Home and Crematory, LLC
1700 Barrington Rd. Midland City, AL
(334) 983-6604
Robert and Toni Byrd

www.SunsetMemorialPark.com

Mary Elizabeth Kelley Williamson, 98, who devoted her life to family and faith, died on Feb. 1, the eve of her 79th wedding anniversary. The Wiregrass native had been a resident at Extendicare Health Center since the 2012 death of her husband, Walter Gilma.

The broad wake of Elizabeth’s life is scattered with countless deeds of service and kindness that made her a bright, outstanding example of an active Christian mother, dutiful wife and faithful friend. The focus of her life was born of an unconditional love of her family and her unquestioned love of God.

Both of her loves guided her life and often became so intertwined as to be indistinguishable. Fellowship, scripture, song and prayer were integral family traditions and as much a part of gatherings as her table overflowing with southern style dishes she prepared with ease and skill. As children grew, married and had children of their own, she worked to infuse those values into those she loved.

“Remember who you are,” she reminded children and teenagers. “Remember where you come from.” Family members from childhood called her “Bibba,” friends often called her “Lib,” and children called her “Grandmother.”

But the identity Elizabeth preferred was Mrs. Walter Gilma Williamson. The name was emblematic of the domestic life she chose in 1936 when she met Gilma at an October cane-grinding party. She was 16; he was 19. In January, the two teens signed a secret engagement pact professing their “true love” and intentions to marry when they were older “to form mutual happiness.”

They were married on February 2, 1940 at the parsonage of Dothan First Baptist Church. They never parted. “Together Forever” is engraved on their tombstone.

Elizabeth’s parents were Pennie Amelia Mullins and Floyed Willis Kelley, each from large Wiregrass farming families. She grew up with her five siblings, some two dozen uncles andaunts and many cousins, nearly all of whom lived within visiting distance. The man she married was from a large farming family on the south side of Dothan whose members lived close by.

She was born in Madrid, a few miles south of Dothan, but her family soon moved to her grandfather's farm in what would become the Cloverdale area of Dothan. When she was old enough for school, she attended Rose Hill Elementary, Ardilla Elementary and Rehobeth High School where she graduated as class president in 1939.

Her husband’s steady promotions with Burlington Industries led the family to move in 1958 to Greensboro, N.C. the first of nine relocations to cities in Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida. New lives were begun in each city and always, Bibba and Gil joined Baptist churches and became leaders in the Christian community.

Twenty-five years of changing homes ended in 1983 when the couple returned to their roots and bought a house in Dothan. They created their 13th home since being married and filled it with love, family mementoes and heirlooms. The welcome mat and the American flag was always out for children, friends and relatives. Bibba spent her last decades focused on home, church, kitchen, daily family journals, children and Gil, her beloved husband and near life-long sweetheart. Their home became the most cherished of all the homes they had made and they lived in it far longer than any other, praising God, serving others and living happily ever after.

Elizabeth is survived by a sister, Ellen Quinn Kelley, of Enterprise, two sons, Ronald Walter (Travis Sams) of DeLand, Fla. and Paul Kelley (Lauren Titus) of St. Augustine, Fla. Her second son, Harry Gilma (Nancy) of Asheville, N.C. died in 2008.

Elizabeth had nine grandchildren including Quentin Kelley Williamson (Nadia Gailani-Jones), Budapest, Hungary; Cecilia Sheldon Williamson, of DeLand, Fla., who died in 2006; Melody Ruth Williamson (Todd Frankhouser), Neptune, NJ; Meri Christi Craft (Michael), Franklinton, NC; Mark Gilma Williamson (Amy Michelle Phillips), Mebane, NC,: William Williamson (Sidra Ali), Boston MA; Max Whitman Williamson, Austin, TX; Hannah Jade Williamson, Los Angeles, CA; and seven great-grandchildren.

In recent years, she devoted more time to reading scripture and often said she was in a holding pattern waiting for God to call her to heaven to be with Gil. “I might not be here next time you come to see me,” she has told visitors. "But don’t cry over me. I’ll be in heaven.”

Elizabeth’s extended family, including many nephews and nieces and their children, reside throughout the Dothan area and can never thanked enough for their attentive love and devotion to their aunt.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, February 8 at First Baptist Church of Dothan followed by burial at Selma Baptist Church Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are through Sunset Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the First Baptist Church of Dothan Mission Fund.

Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements. Please call us or visit www.SunsetMemorialPark.com for more information.