Gay Williams

March 1, 1940-February 13, 2018

Gay Cardwell Williams, the second of four children, was born in Martinsville, Virginia to the late John E. Cardwell and the late Lois Mitchell Shelton March 1, 1940. She was educated at Albert Harris School from primary through high school. Gay loved school and she proved it by qualifying for membership in the National Honor Society each year throughout high school. Gay loved sports, especially girls’ basketball. After graduating from high school in 1958, Gay moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut. It was not long before she enrolled in the Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing. After a brief illness she was forced to rethink her future. She made a decision to locate to Philadelphia, Pa in 1960. There she enrolled in the Franklin School of X-ray Technology. After completing the requirements to become an x-ray technician, Gay was employed by the Springfield Hospital in Delaware County, Pa.

It was in Bridgeport, Connecticut where she met the love of her life, Ernest P. Williams, an officer in the U.S. Army. They were married in 1961. The family traveled extensively, including tours of duty in Texas, Okinawa, California and North Dakota. They settled and made their home in Huntsville, Alabama, where Gay was employed by the U.S. Army, as a records management specialist.

Gay loved water aerobics, gardening, and creating appetizing jams, jellies and pickles made from items grown in her garden. She also enjoyed attending church, traveling, family gatherings and spending time with her two grandchildren.

She leaves to mourn her two children, Cheryl Joy (Frederick), of Washington, DC and Daryl Ernest (Jennifer), of Huntsville, Alabama, two grandchildren, Alex Scarboro and Colin Williams, two sisters, Maxine (Mickee) Goodson, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Antoinette (Toni) Styer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a sister-in-law, Alice Howell of San Jose, California, and many cousins and friends. She will be sorely missed.

You may visit with the family at Valhalla Funeral Home on Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 6-8pm and on Friday, February 23, 2018 from 9-10am. There will be a funeral service with Pastor Steve Sharp from the Rock Family Worship Church commencing at 10am on Friday in Valhalla’s Chapel. The interment will immediately follow in Valhalla Memory Gardens. Please sign her guest registry at www.valhallafunerals.com.