Charlotte Ann Williams

COLUMBIA - “Ann” was a small town girl at heart. Born in Winchester, Kentucky, to Neville and Mary Ellen Quisenberry, she was the youngest of four daughters. Growing up in a small town, Ann experienced a wholesome childhood was actively involved in the First Baptist Church, enjoyed roller skating and bicycling, being the Jacks champion, and leveraged the role being “baby of the family.”

Ann’s childhood lessons created lifelong habits. Her daddy, the owner of the full-service Standard Oil gas station, insisted that his girls would NEVER fill an automobile gas tank. Ann took that directive to heart driving out of her way find a full-service gas station. Surprisingly, she NEVER filled a gas tank her entire life! On the maternal side, Ann’s mother helped form her legacy in the kitchen where daily meals were delicious acts of service served on china. The recipes in Ann’s cookbooks credit her mother, sisters, and aunts who passed down family recipes. Likewise, Ann’s dinner table reflected tradition and joy. Ann’s profound love for music began early in childhood as two neighbors, Wahldie and Ida, taught her to play the piano at eight years old. Her beautiful soprano voice added to her musical gifting.

On September 11, 1954, Ann married her high school sweetheart, George Drake Williams. Because George was drafted to serve in the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force and Ann began her new life-adventure of living state-to-state for the next twenty years in New Mexico, Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alaska, Virginia and Maryland. During these years Ann raised three children. They were married sixty-eight years! Ann was a true Air Force wife and rose to the occasion of managing a home and raising children as George served overseas.

After George retired from the Air Force, the family moved to Irmo, SC. They purchased their first home and returned to small town existence, living in their home 51 years. Ann loved this new home. Ann particularly enjoyed sitting on the front and back porches, entertaining guests, waving to neighbors, watching the squirrels, feeding birds and feral cats. Neighbors share stories with great appreciation for the friendship they shared.

Ann is survived by her three children, Thomas Neville Williams, Martha Ann Williams, and Stephen Allan Williams and their families totaling 32; with seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Tommy, Martha, and Stephen recognize the many sacrifices “Mama” demonstrated her love in raising each of them throughout their lean and abundant years. Being a domestic artist, Ann used her fine skilled arts to decorate all her homes and bless her family with handmade dresses, crochet blankets, knit scarves, framed cross stitch, needlepoint pillows, canvas paintings, and flower gardening.

As a member of Union United Methodist Church for over fifty years, the deep faith of this small-town-spirited lady is witnessed in the notes she left in her Bible and bookmarks traced in her many hymnals at home. Jesus’ comforting love is evident in her life and her passing. Her life has left a legacy of care, friendship, and tradition to her neighbors, friends, and family. Charlotte Ann Williams has made the world a better a place and leaves a legacy for her family to follow.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.