Evelyn G. (Jones) Williams

Evelyn G. Jones Williams was born in Saluda County on December 8, 1921, to Frances Jones and Elijah Miles and was the last remaining survivor of her six (6) siblings.  She completed high school in Saluda County and completed cosmetology school in Orangeburg, South Carolina.  She married the late Josh Williams on October 9, 1948 and celebrated the birth of five (5) children: Jerry, Josh, Patricia, Montez and Lionel.

She joined the then segregated Women’s Air Corp (W.A.C.) on September 27, 1944.  She served as a Medical Corpsman, assisting medical staff, from administering vaccinations and providing clerical services.  Although she lived in segregated housing, she provided services to a diverse population.  Her service medals include:  American Theater, Good Conduct and the WWII Victory metals.  She was stationed in Iowa and Washington State before her honorable discharge from Fort Bragg, North Carolina on July 9, 1946.

On November 7, 2009, Mrs. Williams had the privilege of being selected to join her fellow WWII veterans on the Honor Flight to the WWII memorial in Washington DC.

She had a proud history of caring for others: serving as caretaker of her mother-in-law, helping in the care of her grandchildren and the children of others.  She welcomed anyone visiting her home and visitors rarely left without sharing a home cooked meal, from Pastors to the neighborhood children.

Evelyn was a long-standing member of the Olive Branch Baptist Church, in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina and until her passing, was the Church’s oldest member.  Prior to her hospitalization, she was an active worshipper at the New Laurel Street Missionary Baptist Church on Fairfield Road in Columbia, South Carolina.  She was a woman of Faith who gave freely, expressed a spirit of gratitude and loved deeply; and she ensured that her children had a foundation of Faith.  Her favorite scripture was the 23 Psalm.  Family would often hear her say, “Must Jesus Bare the Cross Alone…”  She loved fashionable clothing and jewelry, crochet and coloring.  She always surrounded herself with plants and flowers, and would often tell family, “Give me my flowers while I live.”

Evelyn is survived by her five (5) children:  Jerry (Frances) Williams, Josh (Marilyn) Williams, Patricia Williams-Taylor, Montez (John) Creed and Lionel Williams; a host of loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  Her life’s journey, in spite of its challenges, has been favored by God’s Grace and goodness. 

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