Jennie Williams, 1870 - 1952

WILLIAMS, SOUTHALL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/2/2022 at 13:51:58

The Pierson Progress
31 January 1952

Funeral services were held in the Pierson Church of Christ on Tuesday, January 29, 1952, at 2 p.m. for Mrs. Jennie Williams, longtime resident of the Pierson community, with her pastor, G.D. Serill officiating, assisted by Dean Orris, pastor of the Church of Christ in Akron, Iowa.

Jennie Southall Williams, daughter of William and Millie Southall, was born February 27, 1870, in Shelby Co., Iowa, and passed away at her daughter's home in Pierson where she made her home in recent years, on January 26, 1952, aged 81 years, 10 months and 29 days.

Her childhood was spent in southern Iowa and in Missouri. In February 1883 she came to Pierson with her parents, her brothers, John, Will and Burnell and sister Lillie. In June 1883 she and her sister picked strawberries in the vicinity of the Pierson railroad tracks, just being laid to this part of Iowa. At age 15 she began teaching at the old Scheeler School in Garfield Township. After further teaching experience and training at Western Normal School in Shenandoah, she became the only teacher in the Pierson School in 1890. February 6, 1901, she married Edward John Williams.

To them were born two sons, John and Harold and one daughter, Shirley. John died December 24, 1928, her husband passed away in August 1937.

She was active her entire life in the Church of Christ. For many years she taught Sunday school class and was superintendent of the Junior Dept. of the Pierson church.

She leaves to mourn her daughter, Mrs. Ben (Shirley) Nannen of Pierson and son, Prof. Harold Williams of Central Washington College, Ellensburg, Washington, a stepdaughter, Mrs. Harry (Ila Rae) Kitson of Cresco, Iowa, and five grandchildren.