Jacqueline Louise Williams

Jacqueline Louise Williams, 82, passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at her home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jacqueline was born December 2, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee, to the late William John Sr. and Margaret Louise Gregory, the eldest of three children.

In 1956, Jacqueline graduated from Pearl High School, in Nashville, and attended Fisk University in Nashville, where she studied the performing arts with an emphasis in opera. There, she honed her beautiful, melodious voice.

Always the epitome of beauty, elegance and class, Jacqueline participated in many beauty pageants such as the Miss City Beautiful pageant, where she received the title crown. Having learned etiquette during her pageant years and understanding its importance in life, she enjoyed sharing etiquette tips with young ones and tried her best to teach it to her children ...with questionable success, her children would admit.

Her love for children and positively influencing the next generation led her to teaching. She taught on a variety of language arts subjects throughout the years. She loved the energy of young people, and they loved her, calling her "Mom."

Jacqueline also loved preaching and teaching about God's Kingdom as the solution to mankind's problems (Revelation 21:3-4), and exhibited a strong faith in her God Jehovah. She preached full-time in the ministry for many years.

Her interests and hobbies were varied. She loved cooking for her family, something she learned from her mother. She also enjoyed canning (food preserving), sewing, and shopping. Jacqueline enjoyed fashion and style. Also, she was never too far away from her roots in music. She loved singing, and ballroom dancing with her husband.

She never met a stranger. Jacqueline could always be found talking to complete strangers, and enjoyed fellowship with friends, neighbors and whomever would lend a listening ear, especially new friends she met while traveling.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond Williams of Fort Wayne, Indiana; daughters, Joy Williams Penson of Fort Wayne; Margo (David) Williams Hubbard of Houston, Texas; son, Chad Williams of Fort Wayne; stepdaughter, Michelle Foote of Wheaton, Illinois; sister, Mary Patricia Freeman of Nashville; nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Jacqueline was preceded in death by her brother, William John Gregory Jr.; and sister, Marguerite Gregory Chapman.

A memorial service to honor Jacqueline's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 3, 2022, at the Maplecrest Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 11181 State Road 37 East, New Haven, Indiana 46774. The service will also be available via Zoom, Meeting ID 96676407807, Meeting Code 1935. Arrangements under the direction of D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jacqueline's honor may be made on JW.org to support the worldwide work of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Jacqueline's family may be shared at www.McCombandSons.com.