Juanita Joyce Williams' Obituary
Life began for the lovely Juanita Joyce B. Dennis (MeMe) Williams on Ja-nuary 9, 1924 in the oil rich boomtown of Mexia, Texas .. She was the daughter of the late Alice Carter Dennis and Emmett Dennis Sr. Juanita was the oldest of six children which were brothers; Emmett Dennis, (Kaye), (both deceased), and Roy Dennis (deceased), sisters; Mellonee Brown, (Leon deceased), Barbara V. Young of Lansing, MI and Charlie Faye Hill, of Minneapolis MN. Her family relocated frequently due to the Great Depression. She lived in the Texas cities of Mexia, Vernon, Chillicothe, EI Paso and Amarillo. She also lived in Gallup, NM and Lansing MI. Her exposure to different cultures required her to become bilingual at an early age. She graduated from Booker T. Washington H.S. of Vernon, TX in 1940 and studied Mortuary Science for two years at Bishop College in Marshall, TX. She met the love of her life Hugh E. Williams after his return from WWII, and they were united in matrimony on April 9, 1948 in Dallas, TX. This union was blessed with three children: Dianne Smith, Hugh E. Williams II, (Myra), Dennis C. Williams and Daughter-in-law Gwen. Her children blessed her with eight grandchildren that she loved dearly: Damon E. Williams, (Anna), Jamiya N. Williams, Latyra J. Stampley, Curtis C. Biggs, Carmen L. McDaniel, (Alexander), Kaira D. Cabranes, (Jose), Alexander D. Williams, Sara E. Whitfield, (John III), and one grandcat Lucy. Ten great-grandchildren: LaCaryra, Natasha, Chenue, Jordan, Tori, Miara, Alexander, Curtez, Aliyah, Che’don. Juanita was a dedicated hard working woman who was exceptionally great at being a wife and mother. She represented the word “Lady”. She was not big in stature but had a very big heart. Juanita was one of many outstanding mothers who helped Hamilton Park become a prominent African American community in North Dallas. She served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, Home Room Mother and worked at the election polls. She did all this while maintaining a full time job at the Valley View Sears store where she worked for over 20 years before retiring. Her door was always open to everyone. If you came by hungry she fed you. If you were thirsty you were given something to drink. For the kids that would get out of line she had a loving way of getting them back on the right path before they left her house. Mom was not only our Mom but she mothered everyone who came to our house. The three voting siblings in the Williams family unanimously selected Juanita Joyce Williams as outstanding “Mother of the Year” for 67 consecutive years from 1949 through 2016. Juanita was a beautiful person. She had physical beauty but it was exceeded by her inner beauty. She had a zest for life. She loved telling a good, usually clean, joke. She gave all of our pets her voices and loved to play dress up with her kids and grandkids. She was an avid fan of baseball and the Dallas Cowboys, (though not so much ~fter Jerry Jones became owner). She dressed for game day and collected team memorabilia over the years. She loved traveling, and’ discovered the amenities associated with flying first class and decided that was the only way to fly. She was always ready to go. She enjoyed reading her many bibles, spending time with family, and playing bible trivia games with us. Juanita was preceded in death by her father, mother, two brothers, her best friend Jean Wright, and on August 17th, 2011 her loving husband Hugh Edward Williams I. Juanita Joyce B. Dennis (MeMe) Williams peacefully parted company with us on May 30, 2016 at approximately 6:30 p.m. at the splendid age of 92. She was in her residence at Signature Point on the Lake in Dallas Texas. Her work here was finished and it was time to move on. She is survived by her aunt, three children, eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, three sisters, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and longtime friends as well as the new friends she made at Signature Point. All were blessed to be on the receiving end of Mother’s special gift, the ability to show love to all. No matter what race, religion, social status, gender, political background, her ointment for any situation in life was to apply more love to it. Most importantly, what we should all remember about Juanita is that she loved God with her whole heart. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and lived her life according to His word. She attended church faithfully at Hamilton Park 1 st Baptist before moving her membership to New Mount Zion Baptist where she remained until the time of her call to glory. Galatians 5:14 KJV says … “thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself’ Galatians 5:22-25 KJV also tells us … “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith, meekness, and temperance” … When … “you live in the spirit you should also walk in the spirit.” Juanita’s life was a testimony to the indwelling of the spirit of God which filled her. Family will receive friends on Friday, June 10, 2016 at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75243 from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, June 11, 2016 at New Mt Zion Baptist Church, 9550 Shepherd Rd, Dallas, TX 75243 at 10:00 AM. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.
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