Nancy Williams

Nancy McGovern Williams, born Dec. 5, 1925 in New Brunswick, NJ, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Francis McGovern, entered everlasting life on December 18, 2021 at the age of 96. She grew up in New Brunswick where she attended Anable school from primary through high school, followed by Smith College, graduating in 1947. She met the love of her life, Rowan Anthony Williams, in 1947 and they married in 1948 and were married 50 years before his death in 1999. Professor Williams’ job teaching at the United States Naval Academy brought them to Annapolis where together, they raised six children – all girls.

She was a lifelong board member of the Christ Child Society Annapolis Chapter, serving for many years as the Layette Committee Chairperson, which provides layette packages to needy infants & Christmas every year for hundreds of underprivileged children.

Nancy was also the founder and proprietor of Whipper Snapper, an upscale children’s clothing boutique, located in West Annapolis which clothed many Annapolis families throughout the years. During her tenure running her business, she served as President of the National Soroptimist Society Annapolis Chapter, and multiple terms as President of the West Annapolis Civic Association. She also was a member of the Annapolis Garden Club in her early years of living in Annapolis, and a member of the Anne Arundel Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, volunteering at the Clothes Box thrift store.

Nancy loved to travel and martinis.

She is survived by all six of her daughters & sons-in-law who affectionately called her “Sarge”; Susan and Crain Houston, Kate and Ed Demeter, Amy and Jon Shirley, Megan and Mark Riley, Molly and Jonathan Bartlett, Brigid and Gary Bruno, 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester Street Annapolis, MD 21401 on Sunday, January 2, 2022 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating her life will be celebrated at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church 620 Bestgate Road Annapolis, MD 21401 on Monday, January 3, 2022 at 9 AM. Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mary’s Church of Annapolis or the Annapolis Christ Child Society.