Grace B. Williams Ebstyne

Grace Ebstyne, born on June 15, 1930, passed from this life on April 20, 2017 at Midtown Medical Center. She was born in Rockingham, N.C., to Walter Ervin Baldwin and Grace Garris Baldwin, grew up in Charlotte, N.C., and attended schools there. She graduated first in her business school class, and took her first job with Duke Power Company. Later she studied court reporting and operated Accurate Reporting Service with her business partner and long-time friend, Mitzy Bondurant.

She and her husband, James H. Williams, moved from Charlotte to Columbus, Georgia in 1982 when his company was purchased by Columbus Foundries. She soon became associated with the law firm known then as Page, Scrantom, Harris, McGlamry and Chapman, and remained there for a number of years, after which she joined the firm then known as Self, Mullins, Robinson, Marchetti & Kamensky. She retired from the law firm of Buchanan & Land.

Jim Williams, her husband of forty years, preceded her in death in 1989. In the year 2000, she was married to Harold D. Ebstyne, who with his wife of 59 years, Pauline, were long time church pew friends of Grace and Jim at First Presbyterian Church. Harold had retired as CEO of Archer Mills, a hosiery manufacturing company in Columbus. Harold and Grace enjoyed six happy years together until his death in February 2006.

Preceding her in death also were her parents; a brother, Walter Ervin Baldwin, Jr.; a brother, Charles Jackson Baldwin; a brother, Ralph L. Baldwin; a nephew, Ralph A. Baldwin; her sister-in-law, Ebbie Baldwin; her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Baldwin; a sister-in-law, Margaret Baldwin; and a great nephew, Stephen Baldwin.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Terry Buchanan of Phenix City, the granddaughter that she adored, Katherine Nerone of Kennesaw, GA; her brother, Harold Baldwin, of Burlington, N.C.; her nephew and his wife, Stephen and Connie Baldwin of Charlotte, N.C.; her nephew and his wife, Alan and Heather Baldwin of Burlington, N.C.; a niece, Gail Schultz of Charlotte, N.C.; a niece, Mary Ann Baldwin of Reidsville, N.C.; several great nephews and nieces; many friends, including friends at Spring Harbor, at First Presbyterian Church and in the legal community; her faithful companion, Maxi, her dachshund. She loved her Lord, her family, her friends, her home at Spring Harbor, nature, flowers, reading, sewing, and all children and animals.

A Celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 3:00 PM in Edgewood Hall of Striffler-Hamby, Columbus, GA. A reception and visitation will be after the service. She will be laid to rest in Parkhill Cemetery with her husband, Jim. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the American Lung Association at www.lungga.org and/or to First Presbyterian Church 1100 First Ave. Columbus, GA 31901.

Online condolences can be offered to the family at www.shcolumbus.com