Adele Redditt Williamson

"An educator, volunteer, advocate and family devotee, Adele Redditt Williamson lived a life of service to home, church and community. Born October 22, 1924 in Columbia, Louisiana, she died November 15, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She graduated from Sophie Newcomb College in 1945 being awarded the Class Prize of 1909 for leadership and service. This very special honor has served as a perpetual spark for the young woman from Columbia to continue her service to her alma mater, church, community and fraternity. After World War II, she married William Floyd (Toy) Williamson, Jr. and after he graduated from Tulane with a degree in architecture she moved to his home town of Baton Rouge. Her leadership skills and community missionary spirit have served many different organizations and causes. The Preschool for the Blind, The Louisiana Arts and Science Center, and the After School Care Program for elementary school children are all projects of which she was a major developer. She served as President of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, the Community Concert Association, The Speech and Hearing Foundation, YWCA, and the National Newcomb College Alumnae Association. She was a member of Questors and The Philistoria, and a former member of the Baton Rouge Country Club and for many years served as Coordinator of the Baton Rouge Assembly Debutantes. Adele is widely known in the fraternity world having served her fraternity, Phi Mu, as National President and then as Chairman of the National Panhellenic Conference, followed by Chairman of the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity. In addition, she was a Trustee of the Interfraternity Foundation. Her inter-fraternity service spanned over thirty years and resulted in the establishment of Adele R. Williamson scholarships and awards by Phi Mu and the Center Board. Among the many honors that she has received were the Kappa Delta Sorority Diamond Award, the Lambda Chi Alpha Exceptional Service Award, The Baton Rouge Junior League Outstanding Sustainer Award, and The Newcomb Alumnae of the Year for Community Service. Adele began her service to God at the Columbia Methodist Church and continued this service at First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge. Never one to turn away from a task she worked in every area of Church work. However, the children of the Church were always her focus and she taught Kindergarten Sunday School for sixty-five years. She chaired the Epworth Altar Guild and through this guided the needlepoint project which saw the chancel area of the sanctuary and chapel beautified with many pieces of needlepoint that included kneelers, chair cushions, and paraments. She was famous for her biscuits and brownies served from a table covered with a white linen cloth, fresh flowers and silver trays before the 11:00 worship service every Sunday. This hospitality time was a special project of husband Toy and Adele's to welcome guests as well as members to First Methodist. In the mid-80's Adele founded Collegiate Advisory Placement Service, an educational service to assist students and families explore opportunities at the secondary and university levels, as well as therapeutic programs for those students that need counseling support. Her dedication to the furtherance of education of young people in all facets of learning, leadership and community activism is well known and unending. Her lifetime has been one of selfless service to the wider community, the causes of education and leadership, her family, and her church. A special thank you to Augustine (Tina) Brown and Amanda Coleman sitters and The Hospice of Baton Rouge and staff including Jill Rehn, nurse and Bobby Burton, Hospice aid. Adele is preceded in death by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Willard Isbell Reddit; husband, William Floyd Williamson, Jr.; two sisters, Christine Isbell Redditt and Nina Holt Redditt Toups; and a nephew James Eugene Toups, Jr. She is survived by her daughters Adele Redditt Williamson Scielzo and husband Nicholas Henry Scielzo of Highlands, NC and Nancy Williamson Cadwallader and husband Daniel Compton Cadwallader; grand-children/great-grandchildren Adele Williamson Scielzo of Washington, DC, Henry Andrew Scielzo and wife Asha, and daughters Emma and Piya of Chevy Chase MD; Rust Compton Cadwallader, wife, and son of Austin, TX; and Scott Davis Cadwallader. A memorial service will be held Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 3:00 at First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA with visitation prior to the service in the Ory Parish Hall from 1:00 "“ 3:00 p.m. Burial will be at the Columbia Hills Cemetery, Columbia, LA on Friday November 18, 2016 at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: First United Methodist Church, needlepoint fund, 930 North Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70802; First United Methodist Church, Columbia, LA; Phi Mu Foundation 400 Westpark Dr. Peachtree City, GA 30269-2090, or The Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A Baton Rouge, LA 70810.