Sandra "Sandy" L. Williams

After dealing with multiple myeloma for 15 years, Sandy passed away peacefully on April 19, 2023 at Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods in Byron Center, MI at the age of 81. She was born on August 5, 1941 to Helen and Robert Hopkins in Muskegon, MI. She married Don Williams in 1963. Sandy was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Tamsin Eileen; her parents; brother, Homer Hopkins; and sisters Diane Seeger and Rose Ann Dobb. She is survived by her husband, Don; sons Sean Williams and Brandon Williams (Premila Mathews); daughter, Nicole Williams; and brother, John Hopkins. She is also survived by her Sri Lankan family Elizabeth Manuel, Princy Mathews (Kevin Boyd), and Alex Mathews (Dani Centra) and children Sebastian and Ruby; and also by her special grandchildren Tyler, Trevor, and Katy Kohley, and their parents, Joe and Ruth Kohley.

Sandy graduated from Muskegon High School, Muskegon Community College, and Western Michigan University. She taught elementary school for a number of years, then became a stay-at-home mom and later worked for the Kent District Library; she retired from KDL in 2008. Over the years, Sandy volunteered with Camp Fire Girls, district music camp at Wesley Woods, Hudsonville Library and Hudsonville band boosters, Volunteers in Mission, Clark Home, and Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. Sandy treasured her time at Wooster, especially summers spent there with sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends. She traveled across the USA and visited England, Mexico, the Virgin Islands, Poland, and Israel. She was a charter member of Georgetown UMC and of Hudsonville UMC; she was a current member of Wyoming Park UMC. To some Sandy was known as the “story lady," to some as the “cake lady," some as the “card lady," to others as “GR-Hug-A-Bear," and to a few simply as "Big Sis."

We express our deep appreciation to her support system, including WWW, Gloria Potter, Inez Oberg and the stampers, OBS, and RSVP. A special thanks to Sean and to the staff at Trillium Woods for their care over the last months.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, May 5 at Wyoming Park United Methodist Church (2244 Porter St. SW, Wyoming, MI 49519), with visitation scheduled from 9:30-11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Kent District Library, Wyoming Park UMC, or UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief).

The family welcomes memories and messages in their online guestbook at www.cookcaresgrandville.com.