Born on March 16,1940 in Hugo Oklahoma to Garland Gett Ford and Gladys Mae Willingham, she was the last of 9 children. Her given name was Athekela Jo but she preferred just Jo and you can understand why. Rumor has it that Nanny, that is what we all called her mom, ran out of names and had the lady down the road pick one. Uniquely, she is the only person I or anyone else knows with that first name. She left this body on November 18, 2024 with her children and some of her grandchildren by her side. She is preceded in death by her father, Garland and mother Gladys, Husband Bobby G. Williams, Son Kevin Duane Williams, brothers Russell, Romy and Kenny, sisters Rita and Jean. She is survived by brother Marion (Ed) Ford and wife Judy of Texarkana, Texas; Sister Juanita Carnes of Kingsport Tennessee, Son Calvin G. Williams and his husband Dan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Daughter Cynthia L. Williams-Brown and her husband James of Albany, Kentucky; and daughter-in-law Margie Williams of Crane, Missouri. Grandchildren Aaron and Andrea Brown, Shelby and Austin Brackins, Eli and Keilee Brown, Jennifer and Gabriel Jacome, Robby and Kylee Williams. Great-grandchildren Sophia, Oliver, Axel, Charlie, Orie, Amelia, Anora, Rhett and Judah. And also many nieces and nephews.
It is never easy to say goodbye to someone who has been a part of our lives. When that person is gone there’s a hole where she used to be in your life. That’s what many of us are feeling today.
Some of you knew Jo better than others, but you’re here because she had an impact on your life, and you wanted to honor that. And because she did affect you in some way, it’s not going to be easy to say goodbye.
At this difficult time, it’s important to remember the good memories we all have of Jo. By holding on to those memories, we can focus on the good times we had together and help each other find comfort in this difficult time.
Some of you remember Jo as she grew up in Hugo. Word has it she was a handful to put it nicely. Pretty sure there were comments made “Here comes Jody you better watch out.” She and her brother Ed, we all call him Uncle Butch, would fight like cats and dogs. I heard him say one time that fighting with her was like bathing a bobcat. I guess you could say she was kind of ornery until she found Christ, that was the turning point for her. She turned hate into love and has been a beacon for many of us since.
Her family migrated to San Bernardino, California in 1952. There she went to and graduated from Pacific High School. After High School she became an admissions clerk at Kaiser Hospital and met and married Bobby (Bob) Gene Williams in 1959. In 1965 they moved to Cathedral City, California where she worked as a retail clerk for many years. She and Bob moved to Crane in 1983. They had a dairy farm for a while and after they quit milking she became a waitress at Jeannies restaurant in Republic. After her husband passed she continued work for a while and finally retired.
In her prime she could do just about anything. She had aspired to be a general contractor at one point because her father was a carpenter and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
When you visit her home, you were nurtured both physically and spiritually. She was a fantastic cook and some of us remember and enjoyed so many Sunday dinners at the house, where we would eat and play a jungle version of volleyball. She was also an incredible athlete and sports fan. She played softball while pregnant with her second child. They made her quit when she was 6 months along because she was hit in the stomach by a line drive. She loved to watch softball, basketball, tennis and football. She would talk to anyone about anything and was a great listener. She at some point would direct the conversation towards her lord and savior. She tried and did bring many to Christ, this was her highest priority. She was a member of New Life Fellowship church in Crane for many years. She loved going to church and worshipping Christ. She was a true and faithful servant. Growing up I remember she would get up early everyday and read the bible and pray. At night before her children would go to bed she would gather them on the bed in her room and read the bible to them. Her priorities were God, family, and work and she showed this daily through her actions. This was a quote from one of her nieces “Her love, generosity, and faith touched many lives. There are people you meet on this journey that leave an everlasting impression on your life. Aunt Jo was one of those people.” She was always thinking of others before herself. We can all rejoice knowing that she was greeted by the Father saying “Come my child, job well done.” She was also reunited with those who went before and those who know can see her husband rattling the ice in his glass for more tea while grinning ear to ear. She was the best of the best and this world is a better place because of her. May you rest in peace.
Born on March 16,1940 in Hugo Oklahoma to Garland Gett Ford and Gladys Mae Willingham, she was the last of 9 children. Her given name was Athekela Jo but she preferred just Jo and you can understand why. Rumor has it that Nanny, that is what we all called her mom, ran out of names and had the lady down the road pick one. Uniquely, she is the only person I or anyone else knows with that first name. She left this body on November 18, 2024 with her children and some of her grandchildren by her side. She is preceded in death by her father, Garland and mother Gladys, Husband Bobby G. Williams, Son Kevin Duane Williams, brothers Russell, Romy and Kenny, sisters Rita and Jean. She is survived by brother Marion (Ed) Ford and wife Judy of Texarkana, Texas; Sister Juanita Carnes of Kingsport Tennessee, Son Calvin G. Williams and his husband Dan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Daughter Cynthia L. Williams-Brown and her husband James of Albany, Kentucky; and daughter-in-law Margie Williams of Crane, Missouri. Grandchildren Aaron and Andrea Brown, Shelby and Austin Brackins, Eli and Keilee Brown, Jennifer and Gabriel Jacome, Robby and Kylee Williams. Great-grandchildren Sophia, Oliver, Axel, Charlie, Orie, Amelia, Anora, Rhett and Judah. And also many nieces and nephews.
It is never easy to say goodbye to someone who has been a part of our lives. When that person is gone there’s a hole where she used to be in your life. That’s what many of us are feeling today.
Some of you knew Jo better than others, but you’re here because she had an impact on your life, and you wanted to honor that. And because she did affect you in some way, it’s not going to be easy to say goodbye.
At this difficult time, it’s important to remember the good memories we all have of Jo. By holding on to those memories, we can focus on the good times we had together and help each other find comfort in this difficult time.
Some of you remember Jo as she grew up in Hugo. Word has it she was a handful to put it nicely. Pretty sure there were comments made “Here comes Jody you better watch out.” She and her brother Ed, we all call him Uncle Butch, would fight like cats and dogs. I heard him say one time that fighting with her was like bathing a bobcat. I guess you could say she was kind of ornery until she found Christ, that was the turning point for her. She turned hate into love and has been a beacon for many of us since.
Her family migrated to San Bernardino, California in 1952. There she went to and graduated from Pacific High School. After High School she became an admissions clerk at Kaiser Hospital and met and married Bobby (Bob) Gene Williams in 1959. In 1965 they moved to Cathedral City, California where she worked as a retail clerk for many years. She and Bob moved to Crane in 1983. They had a dairy farm for a while and after they quit milking she became a waitress at Jeannies restaurant in Republic. After her husband passed she continued work for a while and finally retired.
In her prime she could do just about anything. She had aspired to be a general contractor at one point because her father was a carpenter and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
When you visit her home, you were nurtured both physically and spiritually. She was a fantastic cook and some of us remember and enjoyed so many Sunday dinners at the house, where we would eat and play a jungle version of volleyball. She was also an incredible athlete and sports fan. She played softball while pregnant with her second child. They made her quit when she was 6 months along because she was hit in the stomach by a line drive. She loved to watch softball, basketball, tennis and football. She would talk to anyone about anything and was a great listener. She at some point would direct the conversation towards her lord and savior. She tried and did bring many to Christ, this was her highest priority. She was a member of New Life Fellowship church in Crane for many years. She loved going to church and worshipping Christ. She was a true and faithful servant. Growing up I remember she would get up early everyday and read the bible and pray. At night before her children would go to bed she would gather them on the bed in her room and read the bible to them. Her priorities were God, family, and work and she showed this daily through her actions. This was a quote from one of her nieces “Her love, generosity, and faith touched many lives. There are people you meet on this journey that leave an everlasting impression on your life. Aunt Jo was one of those people.” She was always thinking of others before herself. We can all rejoice knowing that she was greeted by the Father saying “Come my child, job well done.” She was also reunited with those who went before and those who know can see her husband rattling the ice in his glass for more tea while grinning ear to ear. She was the best of the best and this world is a better place because of her. May you rest in peace.
