Nancy Ruth Williams

Published 5:06 pm Monday, April 12, 2021

Nancy Ruth Williams passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Thursday, April 8, 2021, surrounded by family in Holyoke, Mass. She joins in Heaven her loving husband of 56 years, Thaddeus Thomas “Thad” Williams. She also joins her daughter, Ruth W. Kiley; grandson, Michael Brock Reilly; granddaughter, Heather Brooke Reilly; parents, Howard Weaver and Ruby Jones Williams; sister, Frances W. Brown; and brother Howard W. Williams. She is survived by three daughters and their husbands: Jean W. Reilly and Michael of Chesapeake; Debbie W. Chappell and Russell of Suffolk; Betty Kay W. Manzi and John of Longmeadow, Mass. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Ned Kiley; brother, Frank Williams and his wife Kathy; twelve grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and many other family and friends who will miss her dearly.

Nancy settled in Suffolk, Virginia where she and Thad raised their beautiful family. She enjoyed gardening, birdwatching, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Nancy loved needlework, music, and cooking; she always had jars of her famous homemade jelly and pickles on hand. In 2015, Nancy relocated to Massachusetts where she impressed the northern folk with her southern charm.

A devout Christian, Nancy was a member of the Bethlehem Christian Church since 1955. She was a proud Virginian and participated in many social clubs: Taylor-Brittle Sunday School Class, Molly Savage Circle, Women’s Fellowship, Beta Sigma Phi Laureate – Alpha Lambda Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star – Sinai Chapter 18, Kings Fork Woman’s Club, The Red Hat Society, Suffolk Canasta Club, and Sans Souci Literary Club. She was a dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a generous supporter of many other charities. Nancy loved deeply. She had special relationships with her children and grandchildren and always offered a nurturing home with open arms. She will be remembered for her generosity, honesty, wit, sense of humor, pride and resilience.

The family would like to thank the staff at Day Brook Village Senior Living in Holyoke, Mass. for their kindness, friendship and endless generosity they gave to Nancy in her final years. The compassion they showed her and her family during this difficult time was exceptional, and the family is forever grateful.

There will be a public viewing at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 17 at Bethlehem Christian Church, followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. A graveside service will follow at Bethlehem Christian Church Cemetery. The services will be conducted by Dr. Michael Reilly and Dr. Tommy Larson, Nancy’s son-in-law and grandson. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem Christian Church at bccsuffolk.org, or to Operation Smile at operationsmile.org. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory at 509 W. Washington St. is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at rwbakerfh.com.