Valli Ingrid Williams

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, May 9, 2025, in the chapel of McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton, North Carolina, 12830 Clayton Boulevard, Clayton, North Carolina 27520.

The family will receive family and friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Friday, May 9, 2025, at the funeral home, prior to the service. A celebration of life will be held immediately after the service at the Heather Hills Recreation Center, 901 Claymore Drive, Garner, North Carolina 27529.

Valli was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 27, 1948, to the late Lucius Peterkin and Hester James Peterkin.

Shortly after the birth of her brother Craig Peterkin, they were both sent to live with their grandparents Johnny and Rachel James in Liberty Hill, SC for the first 6 years. There they enjoyed rural living on their grandparent’s farm, picking berries and following the cow bell. Once their parents got settled into their new home in New Jersey the children returned to the city of Newark. Their parents had 3 more children in that union, Stanley, Don and Toni Peterkin. Their parents worked to give them a happy childhood in the North Ward of Newark. Valli graduated from Barringer HS in 1965 and attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she tried basketball for a short time when female rules were to dribble twice and then pass the ball. She then met and married Robert Gregory Thornes, Sr. where 3 children were blessed to that union. Robin R. (Thornes) Prince, Fatima J. (Thornes) Hargrove, and Robert G. Thornes, Jr. After her 10-year marriage, she divorced and moved to Hillside, New Jersey, where she raised her children. She met Jay Fitzgerald, and they were common law partners for 12 years.

During this time, she worked as a data entry analyst and an accountant for several employers until she settled with Exxon Office Systems in the 1980’s. She tried her hand at entrepreneurship starting Capitol Business Center, an administrative business that led her to a contract with the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, New Jersey which began her direct mailing service business several years. She was invited to take a role with the City of Newark in 1988 and she left her business and worked with the city until her early retirement in 2002.

In 1997 she married Thomas B. Williams. They lived in Hillside, New Jersey until 2002 when they decided to relocate to North Carolina. She quickly found herself restless and took short-term administrative and retail jobs to fill her time. It was not long before she found herself starting a new business named Allvecia, where she began making and selling all natural soaps and body creams growing her business to a respectable level. Sadly, the confines of the 2020 pandemic slowed her spirit. However, she did find interest in completing and publishing a book that she had been working on over the years. She published "Unpacking the Pink Bag" in 2024.

She was accomplished in so many areas, an accountant, an entrepreneur for several industries, a writer and mentor to young business owners to name a few.

She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Thomas B. Williams; her brothers, Craig (Elett) and Don Peterkin, her sisters-in-law. Lynda Thornes and Diane Marsburn; three children, Robin (Thornes) Prince, (Fabian-deceased), Fatima (Peaches) Hargrove, and Robert G. Thornes Jr. (Natalia); grandchildren, Christine (Prince) Gryzmala, Nichelle (Prince) Joseph, Kendra Prince, Jessica Hargrove, Stefani (Hargrove) Johnson, Benn Barron, Brearra Dunns, Tearra Dunns, Nadir Thornes, Keanna Thornes, Kiely (Peach) Davis and Kenyon Thornes; 9 bonus-children Diane Williams(deceased), Thomas (Tommy) Williams Jr, Dawn Farrar, Pauline Williams-Johnson, Felicia Hurry, Marshall (Jamal) Bouler, Brian (Ali) Williams, Marcus Williams and Aliyah Lockhart; as well as grandchildren, Yaunae McAllister, Brittney McAllister, Jahaad Williams, Mylaijah Drake, Maisha Williams, Elissa Clark, Jerome Clark (Deceased), Shaheed (Kevin) Farrar, Kiarah Davis, Zaynah Farrar, Sameena Farrar, Sakinah (Deceased), Kquortney Reece, Kishon Farrar, Korey McClary, Kia McClary, Malcolm Williams, Nakiah Williams , Nadirah Williams, Najalah Williams, Najee Williams, Jaleel Williams and Imani Robinson; her aunts, Jeanette James and Jackie Robinson and uncles, Franklin (Sonny) James (Deceased) and Marcellus Robinson; 41 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Hester and Lucius Peterkin, she was preceded in death by brother Stanley Peterkin and sister Toni Peterkin and bonus daughter Diane Williams.

Flowers may be sent to: McLaurin Funeral Home, 12830 Clayton Boulevard, Clayton, North Carolina 27520

All other gifts please contact Rob Thornes at 732-832-1405.

McLaurin Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.