Brown Funeral Home announces the death and funeral services of Navada Williams, who died Feb. 7, 2013 at Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick. Navada Williams, also known as “Nay”, was the beloved daughter of the late Deacon Manning and Mattie B. Williams. She was born and raised in Baxley and grew up among loving family and friends. Nay was educated in the Appling County School System. During her early life, she moved to Rochester, NY where she worked at Kodak Film Company. After retiring from Kodak, she moved back to Georgia and worked a number of years with adults with mental, physical and behavioral disabilities. Nay always had a big heart and enjoyed helping people in need. Nay loved her family. She encouraged her nieces and nephews, who she saw as her children. She was affectionately known to them as “Aunt Nay.” She showed acts of kindness to everyone, especially young people. Nay served as a faithful member of the Jack Summerall Family Gathering Scholarship Committee and Choir. She attended Pentecostal Holiness Church of Brunswick. Nay truly loved her family, good food and good times.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, David E. Williams, Clevester Carter and Dr. Levern Carter and sister, Dr. Vivian Chance.
She was a very loving and special person who touched many lives.
Survivors include three brothers, John E. Williams, Arthur L. (Agnes) Williams and Quinton (Gwendolyn) Roberson, all of Baxley; six sisters, Velma Lewis, Dorothy Roberson, Annie Williams and Valarie Ryan, all of Baxley, Alice Frasier of Georgetown, S.C. and Ruby Wellmaker of Augusta; two sisters-in-law, Alice Carter of Brunswick and Robin Williams of Waycross; four aunts, Drissie Williams, Lizzie (Melvin) Paulk and Willie Pearl (James) Copeland, all of Baxley and Ann (Nathaniel) Birdsong of Winter Haven, FL; one uncle, Thomas Edwards of Baxley; five godchildren: (her nephews), Jeremiah, Samuel and Emanuel (known as “her boys”), Layla McCall Stafford and Syretta Lett; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 from Thankful New Jersey Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. B. J. Virgil presiding. Eulogy was given by Pastor Isaiah Allen of the Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Interment followed in Old Field Cemetery in Baxley.
Active pallbearers were Alvin Vincent Chance, Sr. Chief Tollison W. Lewis, Jeremiah W. Paulk, Samuel Ryan, David McDuffie, William H. Lewis, Emanuel Ryan, IV and David E. Williams.
Honorary pallbearers were John E. Williams, Arthur L. Williams, Quinton Roberson and Appling County High School Class of 1971.
Musical selections were rendered by nieces, Teresa McGahee and Tiffany N. Lewis.
Arrangements were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.