Barbara Nell Williams

Barbara Nell McCormick Williams was born in Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi on August 13, 1946 to the late Mr. Mose McCormick, Sr. and Mrs. Johnny V. Bell McCormick. Barbara was the second of five children born to this union. At an early age, she professed a belief in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and joined Friendship Baptist Church where she was Baptized and remained faithful to the church though out her childhood and adult life.

Barbara attended the public schools of Laurel, Mississippi and was a member of the Oak Park High School graduating class of 1965. She was very active as a supporter and participator in many school activities, including being a member of the schools marching band, serving in the capacity of a majorette. Barbara furthered her education in 1965 by attending Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, graduating in 1970.

During the same year (1970), Barbara came to Seattle, Washington as a result of a teacher’s recruiting program, in which she was involved. She began her teaching career at Madrona Middle School in Seattle where she met Elmore Williams, Jr. (the love of her life) they both were teachers employed by Seattle Public Schools.

On August 19, 1972 Barbara was united in holy matrimony to Elmore Williams, Jr. in Laurel, Mississippi at Friendship Baptist Church. Two children were born to this loving and blessed union, Elmore Wesley Williams, III and Tanisha Jenell Williams.

Barbara rededicated her life to God as her personal Savior in 1977 and were among the charter members of the Solid Rock Baptist Church, now Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Baptist Church in Renton, Washington. She served in the capacity of the Church Announcements Clerk, Trustee Board Member, and a member of the Coretta Scott King Women's Department. To satisfy her desire to learn, to grow, and be a better servant, Barbara continued her quest for knowledge at the University of Washington (Seattle) and Western State University (Bellingham Washington). Her studies in education awarded her with an Elementary and Secondary Professional Education Certificate, and a Principal/Administrator Permit (K-12), culminated with a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from the University of Washington in 1985.

Barbara also worked in the Renton Public Schools and Tacoma Public Schools Systems before retiring due to her ill health in 2010. She cared deeply about her family, her God, her church and her community. In spite of her long-term illness, she remained active in the church ministry and the school systems until declining health no longer allowed her to participate.

We remember Barbara’s dedication to excellence. Truly, it was her faith in God and the children who were her primary concern. First, last and always – the children – with all her work and with all the demands upon her time, she always saw to it that there was time for them. Barbara was a person who would accept nothing less than the best for the children she served. She would also accept nothing less than the best from those who worked with her, which was only fair, since she set just as high a standard for herself. Indeed, it was a hallmark of her life that she drove herself harder than those around her.

Our friend, colleague, companion, and loving mother – Barbara Nell McCormick Williams – her life left us who carry on after her better people, better administrators, and better educators. We stand as the living memorials to her as we fight for the standards that she established. We cannot forget her, we take comfort in the fact that a part of her will continue to live, reflected in the lives of the children and students she has instructed and guided over the years. As a teacher and an administrator, she gave of herself, perhaps the greatest gift of all, and those students and teachers who were fortunate enough to fall under her dynamic tutelage will carry her ideas, her knowledge, and her moral principles into the world, and the world cannot help but be made a better place because she was once among us. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Barbara was affiliated with community organizations such as the Seattle Public Schools, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Baptist Church, Jack and Jill of American, Inc., Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Renton Public Schools, Tacoma Public Schools, and Bible study fellowship at New Hope Presbyterian Church.

Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Mose McCormick, Sr., her mother, Johnny V. Bell McCormick, her brother-in-law, Louis Whitlock… Those left to cherish her memory are her spouse, Elmore Williams, Jr., her children, Elmore W. Williams, III, (Yirgalem) Covington, WA., Tanisha J. Williams, Bethesda, MD., her siblings, Mose McCormick (Odell), Laurel, MS., Chinita Whitlock, Long Beach, CA., Dwight McCormick (Lin), Laurel, MS., and Demetra McCormick, Renton, WA., Four Grandchildren, Elmore A. Williams, IV, Lidya Williams, Delina Williams, Nadia Williams and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives, friends, and church family.

Live Streaming will be available to watch the Homegoing Celebration of Barbara:

https://vimeo.com/event/3297452/3c791efb2e

The Homegoing Celebration of Barbara Nell Williams can be seen through the link provided below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFu5WO9cJoU

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenwoodmempark.com for the Williams family.