Patricia Williams Criminger

Patricia “Pat” Williams Criminger, age 79, of Little River SC passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home September 9, 2023. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was born July 30, 1944 to the late Joseph Nicholas Williams and Lillie Morgan Williams in Wilmington, NC and was one of five girls. Pat graduated in 1962 from New Hanover High School in Wilmington.

She met the love of her life, Larry Criminger, in Fort Fisher and they wed on January 10, 1965. Pat and Larry moved to Raleigh, NC later that year, where they raised their family and were very active at their church, Millbrook Baptist. While staying home to raise her children, she began a side business of making country-ruffled curtains and installing wallpaper. Pat loved decorating her home and had a constant stream of visitors coming to see her beautiful home in Raleigh. After raising her children, Pat held a few jobs that brought her joy: Attendance Secretary at Millbrook High School, Secretary to the CEO for Coeur Laboratories, and Typist of the Session Records for the North Carolina State Legislature.

In the mid 1990’s, Pat and Larry retired to Little River, SC where they enjoyed making new friends and serving the community through First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach. Pat enjoyed ministries such as feeding the local lifeguards and delivering food to shut-ins with Helping Hands. She never met a stranger and was often surrounded by a loving group of friends who meant the world to her. The highlight of her month was always her “card group”, where she enjoyed fellowship with a group of friends, while making homemade cards that were only given away on special occasions.

Pat was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Lillie Williams and her sister Nancy Williams. She is survived by her husband Larry Criminger, her children Bryan (Blair) Criminger and Angie (Lee) Leckie, all of Charlotte, her four grandchildren Morgan, Landon, Jack and Caroline, her sisters Mildred Spivey, Sib (Charles) Harrell, and Anita Julian, and several nieces and nephews.

She took great pride in being “Mimi". Anyone who knew Pat knew all about her family and how proud she was of her children and grandchildren. She had the special ability to make each one feel special and never missed an opportunity to tell them how much they were loved.

In her final days, she reminded anyone who would listen how proud she was of the children she raised and her precious grandchildren. Pat also inspired many by insisting during her final days that these were some of the happiest days of her life, and she was eagerly awaiting going home to Heaven.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach Building Fund, 200 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.

A guest book is available at www.leefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.

Lee Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family.