Wanda Matlock Williams

Wanda was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, on March 13, 1928, to R. E. and Aulener Bellezora Durrett Matlock. She was born at home and lived in the same house on Zeno Street all through school and college.

Wanda attended Nacogdoches High School and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1945.

She then went on to attend college at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches. She attended straight through fall, spring, and summer semesters and graduated in three years as valedictorian of her class of 1948, earning her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. She also took a lot of advanced math courses where she was sometimes the only woman in the class.

After obtaining her degree, Wanda worked in the office of Lone Star Feed and Fertilizer Company in Nacogdoches for about a year before deciding that office work wasn’t what she wanted to do.

Working with the Stephen F. Austin University recruiting department, she found the start of her career in education. Wanda worked as an elementary school teacher in Galena Park, Texas, for three years.

In 1952, Wanda was introduced to the Dean of Lee College in Baytown and was hired to teach in the Business Department. At that time, she was the youngest faculty member at Lee College. She taught Business Machines, Typing, Shorthand, Business Communications, and Business Arithmetic.

While teaching at Lee College, Wanda attended the University of Houston where she earned her Master of Business Education (MBE). She continued to teach at Lee College through 1964 at which time she stayed at home with her children for a few years.

In 1970, she was recruited to teach in the Math Department at Sterling High School in the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District where she taught for many years. In addition to math, Wanda also taught in the Business Department. During her last two years, she taught five typing classes a day. Wanda retired in 1985 with a total of 25 years teaching in Texas.

Wanda was a Life member of the National Education Association, and after her retirement became a Life member of the Baytown Area Retired Employees Association and the Texas Retired Teachers Association.

She was also a member of the Plumwood – Eva Maude Garden Club, the Dirt Gardeners Garden Club, and three bridge clubs.

Wanda met the love of her life in 1953, and was married on June 13, 1954, to Edward Benjamin Williams, Jr. in Nacogdoches, Texas. They were married for sixty-two years until Ed’s passing in 2017, and they were devoted to each other and to their children and grandchildren.

Wanda and Ed joined Memorial Baptist Church together after their marriage in 1954. The church was the foundation of their marriage, and they were active and faithful members all their lives.

One of Wanda’s favorite memories was of her 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Her children organized a “Night on the Town” with a limousine, private dining experience, and a theater performance for Wanda, Ed, and six of their friends. It was the first time any of them had been in a limousine.

Wanda enjoyed traveling and visited Greece, China, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Norway, England, Scotland, France, and many other countries, as well as many states across the United States.

She was a devoted grandmother to her four grandchildren, visiting and traveling with them and being present at many of the important events in their lives.

After retirement, Wanda took courses in crocheting and bridge, and she joined water exercise classes. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and sudoku.

She volunteered through the Humana Hospital Auxiliary, later the Baycoast Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, working as a volunteer for 17 years in the hospital gift shop until 2002. Wanda also volunteered with the Prison Ministry at Memorial Baptist Church where she graded papers from inmates who participated in correspondence courses.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Benjamin Williams, Jr.; her mother Aulener Bellezora Durrett Matlock and father R. E. Matlock; her brother Floyd Farris Matlock and his wife Peggy Matlock; sister Clara Ivy Day and her husband Wesley Day; sister Nina Alzada Hill and her husband Norman Hill; sister Marianella Permenter and her husband Roy Permenter; sister Allie Ona Stubblefield and her husband Henry Crittenden Stubblefield; sister Dorothy Addie Johnson and her husband Joe Johnson; brother Roy Edward Matlock and his wife Murrell Matlock; sister-in-law Eunice Hill; and brother-in-law James Kelley Phillips.

Wanda is survived by her son Bruce Edward Williams of New Braunfels; son Mark Steven Williams of Denver, granddaughter Manon Claire Williams and grandson Matthew Steven Williams; daughter Pamela Kay Pisani of Kingwood and her husband Louis Pisani, granddaughter Kathryn Nicole Pisani, and grandson Nicholas Louis Pisani; sister-in-law Doris June Phillips of Dickenson; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Her family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, March 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Memorial Baptist Church Chapel, 600 West Sterling, Baytown, Texas 77520 with Rev. Randy Piatt officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veteran’s Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas, 77038.

In lieu of flowers and usual remembrances, memorials may be given to Memorial Baptist Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association online at www.alz.org or by mail to 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.