Helen Lorraine Williams

Helen Lorraine Sowl Williams, 93, of Brunswick, GA went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 22, 2017, at Hopsice of the Golden Isles. Born on November 15, 1923 in Duluth, MN, she was the youngest of seven born to Fred Forrest Sowl and Thora Hagen Sowl. She shared many stories about growing up in Minnesota with her father, mother, brothers and sisters. She loved her family dearly. She relished going home to Minnesota to visit her many nieces and nephews who she talked to often. She was the Southern family’s connection to our Northern roots.

After her father passed away, she moved to California with her mother when she was young to be close to one of her sisters. While there she met and fell in love with Lee Williams, Jr., a Navy man from Centerville, AL. They were married for over 35 years. They raised three sons, Dennis, Ronald “Ronnie”, and Kenneth “Ken”. The Navy took them from San Diego, CA to Pensacola, FL, Kodiak, AL and then brought them to Brunswick, GA. Her favorite place they lived was San Diego, CA. She talked about how beautiful San Diego was and how she and her husband had always wanted to move back there after he retired from the navy. During one of their stations in Pensacola, she came to saving faith and started attending church regularly. When they moved to Alaska, she made her first loaf of homemade bread because bread was so expensive in Alaska at that time. She was so proud of her first loaf of bread that there is a picture to commemorate the occasion. When they moved to Brunswick, they bought their first three bedroom home. She was so proud of the big house which had so much more space than any other Navy housing they had lived in. She remained in this house for over 50 years. She finished raising their three sons in this house and loved many grandchildren, great grandchildren and even her great-great grandchild there.

She was a member of Northside Baptist Church where she cherished her Sunday School Class, the Joy Class. The ladies in the Joy Class were near and dear to her heart. She enjoyed her time singing in the choir and playing in the hand bells choir. She took pleasure in serving in the kitchen at church and she volunteered for vacation Bible school throughout the years. She delighted in the cards made and given to her by the many children of the church.

She treasured doting on her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. One of her special memories in her words was, “caring for my grandchildren at their young ages- I loved them.” Many countless hours were spent playing the marble game called Aggravation on a homemade game board. In her words, “Then there was the “Marble Game”. Boy! (We) the family had great fun playing it. The younger great grandchildren had so much fun beating Grandma!” Another of her special memories was being and active part in Al-Anon. She met many new friends and lasting friends. She cherished every one of these ladies. They were near and dear to her heart and provided sweet time of fellowship.

Helen was the anchor of her family. She had 3 sons, 9 grandchildren who cherish her. She was blessed with 16 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Lee Williams, Jr., two sons Ronald and Kenneth Williams, 2 daughters-in-laws Anne Williams and Natalie Williams, and one granddaughter, Dena Williams. She is survived by her son Dennis Williams of Brunswick, GA. She is survived by her grandchildren Matthew (Delishia) Williams of Des Moines, IA, Stephen (Joanna) Edgerton of Thomasville, GA, Hope (Cindy) Edgerton of Smyrna, GA, Jennifer (Michael) Mayo of Newnan, GA, Amy (Sean) of Dallas, GA, Stacy (Jason) Bell of Phenix City, AL, Daniel (Leslie) Williams of Phenix City, AL, and Leslie Williams of Brunswick, GA. Her surviving great-grandchildren are Rose (Zack) Stocks of Rockville, VA, Desire and Irie Williams of Des Moines, IA, Sarah, James, and John Edgerton of Thomasville, GA, Hunter Edgerton of Smyrna, GA, Caleb and Gabriel Mayo of Newnan, GA, Jaden and Meadow Armenia of Dallas, GA, Millie, Micah and Maelynne Bell of Phenix City, AL, Bryson and Austin Williams of Phenix City, AL, and Grayson Williams of Brunswick, GA. Her surviving great-great grandchildren are Georgia Stocks and baby Stocks of Rockville, VA.

Her family is grateful for the time we were given with such a wonderful lady. We will hold every memory near to our hearts and think of her often. She left us with many stories to share and pass on to future generations. Once eating Thanksgiving dinner in her living room recliner, she looked around at the crowd of folks gathered and said, “look at all this… because of me.” She was a person that everyone who met her liked. There was just something about her people loved.