Florence Nicholson Douglass Williams, “Bitsy”, passed away Friday, June 14, 2024. She was a lifelong resident of Birmingham. Bitsy attended the Brooke Hill School for Girls followed by Ramsey High School, where she graduated in 1956. She loved attending Camp Nakanawa in Crossville, TN (where she was a proud Valkyrie and canoeing counselor), and she remained actively involved there her entire life.
After high school graduation, Bitsy went on to attend and graduate from the University of Alabama, majoring in Early Childhood Development, where she was an enthusiastic sister of Delta Delta Delta. After college, Children’s Hospital of Alabama was researching a new potential play therapy role which they felt at the time could greatly improve a child’s experience in the hospital and Bitsy was hired as the first Play Therapist, a role she absolutely cherished. This role led her to meet and marry Dr. James Richard Williams. His medical career took them to Pensacola, Florida, where he served a medical role in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Bitsy was passionate about providing care and support for those families whose fathers/husbands were injured or killed in the war. They moved back to Birmingham in 1969.
Bitsy always had a deep love for helping people in need, and she cherished serving many Birmingham charitable organizations including Gateway, Linly Heflin, Wildlife Rescue, and in her younger days, the Junior League of Birmingham.
Bitsy greatly enjoyed gardening and was a member of both the Hermitage Garden Club and Rockridge Garden Club. She was also a longtime volunteer for the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, winning the Educator of the Year award in 2009 for her work guiding field trips for elementary aged children.
From her father, she developed a love of history and was involved in the Birmingham Historical Society, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Other organizations in which she was involved include The Carousel Dance Club, Vanities Dance Club, The Country Club of Birmingham, and the Women’s Committee of 100.
Most important to her was Bitsy’s deep faith in God and love for her church, the Cathedral Church of the Advent (where both her parents and grandparents had been members). She loved serving with the Altar Guild, teaching the 4K Sunday School Class, attending Bible study, working at Lenten Lunches, and participating in Vacation Bible School, the St. Fiacre Garden Guild, and the St. Bridget’s Guild.
Bitsy is predeceased by her parents Edward Trent Douglass, Jr. and Florence Nicholson Douglass, her sister, Trent Douglass Caddis, and her husband, Dr. James Richard Williams. She is survived by her son, James Douglass Williams (Gretchen), her daughter, Marguerite Williams McCabe (Mike), her beloved grandchildren, James Cole Hopkins, Anne Douglass Williams, Taylor Markline Hopkins, James Kennedy Williams and Virginia Marguerite Williams, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bitsy will be remembered for her kindness, enduring faith no matter what life threw at her, love of all creatures great and small (both two and four legged), devotion to her family and her selfless, servant’s heart.
A service celebrating her life will be held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent on Thursday, June 20th with visitation at 2:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 3:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cathedral Church of the Advent (2017 6th Ave North; Birmingham, AL 35203), or the Linly Heflin Scholarship Trust Fund (3 Office Park Circle – Suite 8; Birmingham, AL 35223).
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints” Psalm 116:15
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