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Julia Williams Obituary
She was a long time member of First Presbyterian Church, The Womans Club, The Junior League and the Council of the Virginia Museum. She served on the boards of Planned Parenthood, The Salvation Army of Richmond, Westminster Canterbury Foundation, The Womans Club, Virginia Institute for Pastoral Care and several other professional, philanthropic and business organizations. She continued to stay involved in recent years with the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls as a former president, and the Council for Women in Independent Schools as a former chair, enabling her to travel and visit with friends. Mrs. Williams was passionate about helping people, particularly young women, achieve happiness and their potential. She devoted her life and love in this respect to her family, her Collegiate "family" and her many friends and colleagues. The family wishes to thank all for the many expressions of kindness and concern. We especially would like to thank and commend the emergency and medical professionals in Maine who were so caring and capable in helping her and the family following the accident. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 4602 Cary Street Road, Richmond, VA 23226 on Friday, December 9 at 2:00pm. There will also be a service held at Westminster Canterbury, 1600 Westbrook Road, Richmond, VA 23227 on Saturday, December 10 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions in Julia Williams' memory be considered for the Julia A. Williams Fund for Faculty Development at Collegiate School, 103 North Mooreland Road, Richmond, Va. 23229; the Westminster Canterbury Foundation, 1600 Westbrook Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23227; First Presbyterian Church, 4602 Cary Street Road, Richmond, Va. 23226, or a charity of your choice.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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Carolyn Winks
December 1, 2011
Dear David, I am so sorry for your loss. Your Mother was so very special ... what a profound impact she had on so many lives, including mine. She was the consummate professional but also caring and so interesting. How lucky I am to have known her. My very best to you and your Family, Carolyn Levey Winks
Mary Warden Good
November 29, 2011
So very sorry for your loss. Mrs. Williams was a very special lady and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her!! Love you all. Thinking of you during this holiday season and always. Love, Mary Warden
November 29, 2011
Mrs. Williams was a class act. I remember her as one of the first female "professionals" that I was ever exposed to, and a real role model. I thank her for making a profound effect on my life.
I am so sorry for your loss, but please know her legacy is carried on by the students she lead at Collegiate.
Jane Dykers Kauder
Collegiate Class of 1981
Alex Massie
November 29, 2011
David,I was so sorry to hear about your Mother.I have many fond memories of her at Collegiate,particularly when I was trying to sneak through the girls school!!She was a GREAT influence on so many peoples lives,I am GRATEFUL to have known Her. Alex Massie
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Susie Way Bucklin
November 29, 2011
Dear David, I am so sorry that you have lost your mom so suddenly and am thinking of you and your family at this difficult time. I am your long-lost cousin, Susie...we share a middle name I do believe (Flournoy). I am recalling the last time I saw your mom when she put me up overnight at her home in Richmond in the summer of 2004. We had a wonderful visit and I found for myself what an awesome lady she was...I had been hearing about her for years from my mom of course!
And now I am regretting that I didn't make it to the Tillar family reunion in October to see her again. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope to reconnect with you sometime soon.
November 29, 2011
To the family:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you work through this sudden loss. Julia exhibited an energy in everything she did and will be missed.
The Harris family - Mike, Diana, Melissa & Sara
Kathryn Black
November 29, 2011
Dear David,
As shocked & saddened as so many, & I, are by your mother's sudden death, I can't begin to imagine how you must feel. I am SO very sorry for your indescribable loss.
There's little else to add about your mother's formidable influence on an a multitude of students & colleagues. I know that in time you will re-read all of these tributes again and treasure them.
Yet, it may be difficult to process anything & everything right now. I know the coming months won't be easy - it will take time, but it DOES get easier/better. Hang on - time does heal, as trite as that may sound (with lots of help from loved ones).
My prayers are with you & your family,
K. Covington (aka Kathryn Black)
Tina Gianoulis
November 28, 2011
I, too, am so sad to hear of Julia Williams sudden death. She was an inspirational teacher who broadened our horizons with such matter-of-fact humor that we almost didn't notice how deeply we were changed by what we learned.
David, I don't know if you remember me, but I was one of Julie's best friends from 6th grade through high school--I will always value the time I spent with your family during those years. My thoughts are with you during this sad time.
Ron Witcher
November 28, 2011
David, Marsha
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. May you find peace as you celebrate her life.
God Bless
Ron and Susan
Jim Mairs
November 28, 2011
Dear David and Family,
As with many others, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of your mother/grandmother. She was indeed an exceptional person; truly one of a kind. Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Robin Rison Ashworth
November 28, 2011
In many fundamental and tangible ways, Julia Williams represents the Collegiate of my girlhood experience - formative and indelible years that certainly shaped my education and coming of age, and largely inform who I have become as an adult. Clearly, there are numerous women for whom this is also true. And that's quite an impressive legacy. Still, that doesn't dispel the terrible hurt of losing a mother, a grandmother, a good friend. I hope, though, that you are comforted in knowing how valued and cherished she was by so many. I am grateful for her life.
Janet Shook
November 28, 2011
Dear David, Gaylon, and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time, especially at such a sudden loss. We were just reminiscing about Mrs. Williams at our Collegiate reunion last month with fond memories of her care. She also grew up with my dad and went to school with him in Petersburg. May God surround you with peace and comfort today and in the days to come.
Janet Swann Shook, Class of 1976
Anne Daniel
November 28, 2011
I am so sorry to read this sad news. What a strong fine woman she was, and a model to all us girls -- whether we are now educators, like her, or have chosen any course at all for our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with David and Mrs. Williams's family, with love. Anne Margaret Daniel, Class of '81 (Woodstock, NY)
November 28, 2011
Dear David and family. Julie was always my role model and friend-- as my 9th-grade teacher and later my boss when I taught English too at Collegiate. I just called Edenton to tell Betty Dixon, who was Julie's Hollins roommate, but Betty died in January. best to all , Susu Schmidt, Beaufort, NC
Amy Remke
November 28, 2011
My prayesr go out to your families on your sudden loss. I can hardly imagine how numbing this loss feels. May God's grace be abundant to you! Amy Gilman Remke, Collegiate Class of 1978.
Carole Sandy
November 28, 2011
Shocked beyond belief, I know that is how all who knew Julia must feel at this time. She was so much fun to work with as a colleague and to enjoy as a person. She looked out for all her "girls" by her example and courage during a tough transitional time during Collegiate School history. I will always remember her for her wit, sharp intellect and love for dogs. I saw her last at the Westminster "Kennelbury" dog event and she was happy and engaged. Sincere sympathy to her family.
Judy, Jeff, Walker and Will Harris
November 28, 2011
Dear Williams and Layfield Families,
Please know that we are keeping you all in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. We were not fortunate enough to have known Mrs. Williams, but we heard so many wonderful things about her through Virginia. What an extraordinary woman.
With our love and sympathy...
Nancy Mackey
November 28, 2011
David,
Your mother was such an inspiration to hundreds of girls. She helped mold us into independent women. I used to enjoy seeing her every now and then at Westham Green. May her memory bring you comfort.
Elva Mapp
November 28, 2011
I also traveled with julia on chris and helen's trips, and I had just enjoyed talking to her at the travelers' reunion. I am so sorry for the loss of this vibrant, lovely lady, and my heart goes out to her family and friends.
Cathy Jones-Hatcher
November 28, 2011
Dear David and Family... the unexpected loss of your mother/grandmother comes as a real shock and shall be deeply felt by so very many people. I am but one of hundreds with fond memories of her,her beautiful smile, and her positive influence. I wish there some words, ANY words ,I could say to ease your sorrow...but I know there are none. I shall keep you all in my prayers. Your mother's memory will live on for MANY years to come.She was quite a woman!!!
Laura Peery
November 27, 2011
Thinking of you all, David, Marsha, Preston and Gayland. Mrs. Williams made such an impact on all of us Collegiate girls and she will be remembered fondly.
Leslie Lawrence Downs
November 27, 2011
Dear David and Family,
I just wanted to let you know how special your mom was and how much I looked up to her. She inspired me to be a great leader. I ended up as a Head of School at a K-12 school in Florida and always reflected on her leadership. I was blessed to get to see her at Westminster- Canterbury last year after not seeing her for about 30 years. I was so excited because she was such a hero to me! I am very sorry for your loss.
carolyn winks
November 27, 2011
Dearest David and all the Williams and Layfields,
What a marvelous and miraculous Woman your Momma was. I shall never forget her and I thank my lucky stars for having known her and been influenced by her. My deepest sympathies for your loss. She was truly quite special.
Carolyn Levey Winks (Collegiate Class of 1978).
November 27, 2011
Dear David, I knew Julie first as my sophomore English teacher and much later as a traveler with Chris and Helen in Europe and finally as a personal friend. She was a lovely lady - the best. She was so proud of you and her grand-children and was so happy to tell everyone her pride in Preston and his plans to go to Argentina. I saw your Mother last at the reunion for Chris and Helen's travelers. She was so happy and excited that she was going to Maine to be with her friends for Thanksgiving. For her it was going to be a dream trip. The Lord called her at a very happy moment in her beautiful life.
Sincerely, Lucy Correll, Amsterdam, Holland
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