Cecilia Kae Williams

After a difficult battle with breast cancer, Kae Williams, 59, of Graceville, Florida passed peacefully at her home in Tallahassee, Florida on February 20, 2024.

Kae was born on October 22, 1964 to Billy Joe and Jennelle Williams. She attended Graceville High School before becoming a licensed practical nurse. After having three children, Kae returned to school and graduated from Athens Technical College with an RN degree in 1999. When her daughters began school at the University of Georgia, Kae was not to be outdone and achieved her own Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2011. Kae worked as a nurse manager at Athens Regional Medical Center for twelve years before shifting to transition nursing, overseeing the care of patients as they progressed from facility to their next stage of care. She continued to lead as a clinical manager for Navihealth even after her diagnosis, through rounds of chemo and radiation, up until the summer before her death. Over the course of her career, Kae facilitated the training of scores of nurses across the southeastern United States and provided care for thousands of patients.

Kae always said, “I’ve done a lot of impressive things and had a lot of successes, but raising my children is the greatest thing I’ve done.” She was heavily involved in their education and loved supporting her kids in their after school activities, cheering loudly in her unmistakably southern drawl at their sporting events, music competitions, and even college graduations. Kae was rarely intimidated and a persuasive speaker, once even talking a would-be robber out of stealing her purse! In Kae’s free time, she loved to craft, dance, go to the beach, and attend concerts. Kae was an active member of the local Kiwanis Aktion Club and loved connecting with and serving her community alongside her son, Eric. Kae retained her sense of humor even as her health declined, cracking jokes with her loved ones until the very end. She will be remembered as a determined advocate, selfless caregiver, and loyal friend with a sharp wit and, much like her favored blue jeans, undeniable flair. The impact of her loss extends far past her immediate family and she will be dearly missed.

Kae was preceded in death by her father Billy Joe Williams and brother Victor “Barry” Williams. She is survived by her mother Jenelle Williams, her children Shelby, Lauren, and Eric Burnam, her sisters Jeanna Hittinger and Shannon Fowler, and her brothers Kurt Williams and Stuart Williams.