Mrs. Frances Williams

“To everything, there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, A time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). Frances Ophelia Baxter Williams was the fifth child born to the late Henry H. Baxter Sr. and Equilla Ferguson Baxter of Douglas County, Nacogdoches, Texas. She was raised in a family of ten siblings and attended school there, graduating from E. J. Campbell High School. Frances relocated to Houston, TX in 1943. She met the late Francis Harold Williams in 1944 and they were united in holy matrimony on October 1, 1945. They settled in the Trinity Gardens community which remained her home for 60 plus years and raised their son and two daughters there. In Houston, Frances served as a faithful member of New Zion Temple Church for over 40 years while still supporting her husband at Gospel Hill Baptist Church. In 1998 she moved her membership to Gospel Hill Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Floyd Young. She continued to be a steward of the Lord until her health began to decline. Psalm 84:5 reads “Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; whose heart is set on pilgrimage”. Through her obedience to God, she was an active participant in various auxiliaries; extending herself through spiritual teaching and caregiving for others. Her desire was that all of her family members accept Christ and be saved. She exemplified a Christian life before all who knew her. She experienced a career in the culinary field at the University of Houston. Her culinary art is known by many because she spoiled us with her delicious meals and desserts. Following U of H, She was a supervisor with Associated Janitorial Services and later a caregiver for the Neighborhood Centers Daycare. Frances was also a member of the Trinity Gardens Civic Club supporting improvements in her community. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband of 44 yrs.-Francis, six sisters and three brothers. From the Williams tree is her legacy of love of three children: George R. Williams, Sr. (Alice), Beatrice Young (Floyd) and Jennifer Dennis (Cornelious). From their trees are eight grandchildren: Georgina (Rodney), George R. Williams, Jr., and Ashly Williams; Yolanda James (Alan), William DeLeon Young (DeAndrea) and Erica Young; Jordan Dennis and Courtney Dennis. Her legacy continues through six great-grandchildren. Our Matriarch has passed the baton to her youngest sister Mary Simpkins (Hank), who along with her devoted sister-in-law Daisy Baxter, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends, will miss her dearly. “Without the ground, a garden cannot grow. Neither can our souls without our spiritual bedrock—the Bible. It is here, through the words of God Himself, that we encounter Christ at life’s very core. It is here where we surrender our souls to His tender tools, where He tills, waters, and wills us to grow until our mustard-seed faith shoots forth branches that bear His image and beckon others to come rest in His shade”. - Thomas Kinkade

Mrs. Frances Williams

September 8, 1925 - November 29, 2018