Noël Barnes Williams

Noël Barnes Williams passed away on December 8, 2023, at the age of 93. She was born in New Orleans on December 26, 1929, to Noël Halsey Barnes and Walter Barnes. She lived in New Orleans most of her life. She was a graduate of Chatham Hall in Chatham, Virginia and Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where she was president of Mortar Board.

On March 10, 1951, Noël married John Herbert Williams.

Noël was a member of the Junior League of New Orleans, the New Orleans Town Gardeners, the Quarante Club and an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church. At Trinity she served on the vestry and as president of the Women of Trinity, chairman of the Trinity Educational Enrichment Program, secretary of the Trinity School Board and president of the Trinity School Parents Group. She served on the board of the Pass Christian Historical Society and was a member of the Fortnightly Book Club and the Pass Christian Yacht Club. She was a member of Trinity Church there in Mississippi and served as chairman of the Altar Guild for many years. She loved flowers and had a keen sense of beauty.

In 1985 Noël and Herbert built a home in Pass Christian, Mississippi, and moved there upon his retirement in 1991. Herbert passed away in 2005 just before Hurricane Katrina hit Pass Christian.

Noël will be remembered by her friends and family as an enthusiastic, dedicated member of the communities she served, and as one who was devoted to her family and who with her husband helped unite family members across the globe. She loved New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast and enjoyed sailing, fishing and swimming. She was a kind, fair-minded and generous person.

Noël was predeceased by her husband John Herbert Williams and her brother Donald Barnes. Survivors include a daughter, Catherine Packard Williams of New Orleans, two sons, John Herbert Williams II and his wife Jennifer Salpeter of Ocala, Florida, and Eric Halsey Williams and his wife Aline Whittaker Williams of New Orleans. Noël is survived by six grandchildren: Lewis Williams (Michelle Morin), Elliot Williams (partner Monica Cazes), Elizabeth Williams (partner Johnathan Peart), Adele Williams Lloyd (Curtis), Graham Williams, and Grace Williams. She is also survived by her sister Jenifer Barnes Garfield of Cleveland, Ohio.

A Memorial Service will be held in the Chapel at Trinity Church at 1329 Jackson Ave., New Orleans on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 11:00 am with visitation an hour before the service, which will be followed by a private burial immediately thereafter at Metairie Cemetery. A reception will take place at 1:00 pm in the Parlor room at Lambeth House, 150 Broadway St., New Orleans. Memorial gifts may be made to Trinity Church, corner of Church and St. Louis Streets, Pass Christian, MS 39571, or to Trinity Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130, or to a charity of your choice.

Noël’s family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and attendants on the 3rd floor of Saint Anna’s at Lambeth House, as well as the dedicated, professional staff of Guardian Angel Hospice.