Jean Williams

Born Jean Braynt, in Alexander City Alabama on June 4, 1925 to General and Mattie Bryant. She was the sixth of seven children. Jean attended Cottage Grove High School until 1934 when she chose to move to Los Angeles with her aunt Maggie Rush. She then attended and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1942.

Jean eventually met and married her first husband Byron Durden, and they were blessed with her first of three sons “Marshal Jeffery Durden”. Years later Jean met and eventually married Fredrick Bertram Williams with whom they were blessed with two more sons, Bert Doyle Williams and Joseph Carroll Williams Sr.

Jean’s had an extensive career in the Telecommunications industry working with Pacific Bell Telephone Company. She retired from Great Western Savings and Loan with 15 years of dedicated service. Her real passion, and what she was so well known for was cooking and catering, independently and with family . Jean moved to Las Vegas, NV in 1994 where she and began working for The Tropicana Hotel & Casino. In 1999 Jean returned home to Altadena California and began working with the Pasadena Unified School District’s Catering Division until 2003.

In 2003 she moved one more time to be near her middle son Bert in Olympia Washington where she called home for the last eight years.

Jean was on loan to us for 87 years and we thank God for every minute He blessed us with her presence. Jean knew she would have to answer the Lord when He called her by her name and said “Come home thy good and faithful servant job well done” (Matthew 25:21).

Jean loved and cherished her family dearly and would do anything she could to please them. She leaves behind her sister; Archie Dean Heard, Three sons; Marshall, Bert Sr. and Joseph Sr. Grandchildren; Marshawn, Kristal , Bert Jr., Jessica and Joseph Jr. Great-Grandchildren; Taysia, Marzell, DaNia, David Jr., and De’Ja as well as a whole host of nieces and nephews.