Ima Vernell Williams

Surrounded by her children and grandchildren, Ima Vernell (Nell) Williams passed into her heavenly home June 15, 2019. Even now, as one granddaughter put it, she is probably gardening with God and laughing with her late and much beloved husband, Joe Williams, who passed away in 2015.

Ima was born March 8, 1924, in Huntington, TX. She was the eighth of 11 children born to Trayton Cornelius Golden and Roxie Viola Lovelady Golden. All but one of her siblings have preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by daughter, Shirley Rae Roberds, whose 1990 passing Ima mourned throughout her remaining years.

Surviving her is her loving sister Marie Andrews of La Porte. She is also survived by daughters Roxanna Morgan Booth of Houston, Barbara Jo Morgan of Baytown, Linda Marie Horton and husband Lannie of Eureka Springs, Ark., Carla Denise Garcia and husband Louis of Baytown, and step-daughter Janine Naomi Williams of Florida; 10 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and 21 great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.

Although she spent her formative years in Huntington, Ima moved to Baytown in 1941 with then-husband, Hubbard Carter Morgan (deceased). Following a short time in Beaumont, the couple moved back to Baytown where Ima opened and operated her own beauty salon for the next 30 years, making an untold number of lifelong friends in the process and doing a job she thoroughly enjoyed despite working many long-hour days. Between customers, she always found time to stitch up Halloween costumes and beautiful, frilly Easter dresses for her daughters on her trusty Singer sewing machine. She also made time to regularly take the children to Sunday School and church, to visit their schools for special events as well as run the house, albeit with the help of the older girls.

In 1973 she met the love of her life, Joe Williams, at square-dance classes. Their infectious enthusiasm soon pulled several daughters and their spouses onto the floor to “circle up” and, though the dancing ended, the romance never did.

She soon joined him in retirement so they could pursue their love of traveling the world and fishing at their Etoile lake house on Sam Rayburn Lake. She liked nothing better than to be outdoors, preferably by the water, hiking, camping, birdwatching or just enjoying a cup of coffee in the porch swing and visiting with family. Their travels took them through much of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and Joe’s ballplaying with Senior Softball USA allowed them to travel to many foreign locales such as Japan, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, Holland, France, Spain and Ireland. It was on one of their trips to England that she was first able to visit the cemetery where her grandparents were buried.

At home, her favorite pastime was gardening. She created a peaceful flower filled sanctuary in her Baytown backyard while summers at the lake house would find her growing both flowers and vegetables. She had a particular fondness for daylilies and managed to breed her own variety by crossing two others, naming the resultant plant “Shirley.”

Perhaps Ima’s greatest achievement in life was the many friends she made everywhere she went. No matter how hard she worked or how tired she got, she always had time to ask a person how they were doing, and to really listen when they answered. She had a true caring spirit which she imparted to her children. Of the many values she instilled in them were a compassion and respect for all people, particularly those less fortunate. Upon her marriage to Joe, she joined him as a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, an affiliation she maintained until her passing. On many occasions, the outreach minister would bring Communion to her at the healthcare center, and several dedicated church members were counted among her visitors.

When she was 45, Ima followed her Masonic father’s example and joined the Eastern Star, Cedar Bayou Chapter. She recently received from them a 50-year commemorative pin in a ceremony at Rollingbrook Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, 750 Rollingbrook in Baytown, where she lived at the time of her passing. And valuing education, she fulfilled a lifelong desire when she obtained her Associate of Arts degree from Lee College.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at Rollingbrook Rehabilitation, with particular thanks to nurses Katherine Renteria and Sharon Tyler. Our thanks also go out to Chantelle Shaffer, Vicki Bates and the staff of Vantage Hospice for their continued loving care during Ima’s lengthy illness.

Visitation is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 24, at Earthman Baytown Funeral Home, 3919 Garth Road, Baytown. Funeral services under the direction of Earthman’s are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 3811 North Main, Baytown, to be followed by internment at Cedarcrest Cemetery, 3010 Ferry Road, Baytown. Her Eastern Star chapter will hold a burial program at the cemetery.

Pallbearers will be son-in-law Lannie Horton and grandsons Dwayne Booth, Gary Young, Morgan Young, Chris Young and Tyler Young. Grandson Ryan Roberds will serve as honorary pallbearer.