Zelma P. Williams
Zelma Williams met her husband, David Williams, on a bus to school.
After borrowing a suit and going on a first date in 1962, David Williams won her over and "weaseled" his way into finally going steady, he said.
Two years later they married on Oct. 3, 1964 at Sugar Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
“She first told me that all she wanted was to get a yellow Camaro and to go to college,” her husband said. “She never did get that Camaro, but we enjoyed sharing several cars together.”
Mrs. Williams, of Columbia, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 at Boone Hospital Center. She was 65.
She was born on April 10, 1944, in Boone County to John F. and Clara Lorene (Baker) Brown.
In January 1980 they adopted their son, Dallas Williams, at age 2.
Each year, the family would take a vacation to a different state. Museums, state activities, fishing and camping were always on the agenda.
“It was something to do as a family together,” her husband said. “We would sit around the campfire and reminisce.”
The family also regularly spent time at Lake of the Ozarks. While her husband would fish, Mrs. Williams took her son and nieces or nephews to a waterpark.
“She didn’t have the patience for fishing,” David Williams said, laughing. “As long as it was clean and cooked, she’d grab a plate.”
In Mr. and Mrs. Williams’ yard there is a collection of what she would call “rocks with personality” from almost every trip the family took. Rocks were taken from the side of the road or campsites.
"They had to stand out, for example be nice and smooth, or pretty in a unique way," Dallas Williams said.
“She could tell you where each one was from,” he said. “She would just go anywhere and loved to see new things.”
Mrs. Williams was also an involved member of the Sugar Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband and son; sister, Mary Belle Smith of Columbia; and two grandchildren.
Her parents, two brothers and two sisters died earlier.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the H.T. May and Son Funeral Home, 405 Sycamore St., Boonville.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Sugar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 5400 East Sugar Grove Road. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70-W.
Online condolences may be left at www.htmayfuneralhome.com.
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