Mary Lou Williams

On Tuesday, December 19, 1944, the Lord blessed Abraham Williams and Willie Lou Urps to welcome their baby girl Mary Lou Williams into the world.  Mary grew up in Sweeny where she graduated from Sweeny High School.

HER PASSION

Mary life’s passion was cooking and singing.  For those who knew her had the privilege of enjoying both.  She could cook with the best of them. She enjoyed good, old fashion, old-school, down-home cooking!!!  You name it, she could do it.  It didn’t matter if it was her famous homemade biscuits, hot water cornbread, or her chicken and dumplings.  She could make your mouth water.  She was not only a good cook in general but she could bake as well.  She was known for her scrumptious German Chocolate Cake.  This passion was fulfilled as she worked as a cook at Plunks Café in Sweeny, John’s Oyster Resort in Galveston, and later at Etie’s in Bay City.  Not only did she cook professionally, but so many times people in the community would call on her to make their preferred dish.

Her voice was her instrument.  Mary’s sweet soprano voice soothed the souls of many during church worship services for decades.  She had such a way of lifting other’s spirit as she sang.  Not only did she sing for worshipers at church but often you could hear her singing around the house as she was going about her day.

HER LOVE FOR GOD

Mary’s love for God was evident!  Her Christian roots started and shaped at Rebector Memorial Church of God In Christ in Sweeny where she grew up.  She served faithfully in areas of ministry as needed.  At My Father’s Business Fellowship she not only served in the music ministry but was a faithful member of the Sunday School Ministry.   Her faithfulness was obvious as she was in Sunday School attendance the Sunday before the transitioned.  She was not only a faithful worker in the church, but she also showed her Christian spirit in the community.  All one had to do was to strike up a conversation with her and she was going to talk about God!  Not only was her favorite book the Bible, and her favorite movie The Ten Commandments, but she lived by her favorite verse found in Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  She Loved God and she lived by her faith.

HER LIFE

Mary loved her family, friends, and church.  Just stopping by to visit her at her home people would either smell the sweet aroma of a delicious meal she was cooking, enjoy the melodic sounds of her soprano voice, hear the crowd roaring as she watched the Houston Rockets, or reflect on older times as she watched episodes of The Waltons featuring one of her beloved actors, Richard Thomas.   Although she did not have any biological children, she believed in the concept that it takes a village.  She was there to help raise, love, correct and cook for so many throughout her life.  She loved people as demonstrated by her giving heart.

There are so many precious memories of her.  As her family, we were inspired and motivated by her.  Although she could not physically see, her vision was far greater than many.  She was a fighter who never allowed her health to deter her. Through it all, she held on to and stood by her faith in God.  On Thursday, June 22, 2023, her faithfulness was rewarded as she gained her wings.    These and other precious memories will carry us. She will be missed by her siblings: Ester Williams of Bay City, Texas, Louvenia Williams of Houston, Texas, her nieces and nephews, along with other family, friends, church and community members.

We remember her parents, Willie Lou Urps and Abraham Williams along with her brothers Albert Williams, Sr., Everett Williams, Freddie Williams, Lexie Williams and Thurman Williams who transitioned before her.

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