Carrie Ree Bryant Williams

Carrie began her earthly journey in Monroeville, AL 99 years ago on January 5, 1923 as Carrie Ree Bryant, the first daughter born to David and Annie (Watson) Bryant and resided in Atmore Alabama after the family escaped sharecropping. Carrie was the first in her family to graduate high school and moved to Mobile at 21 to work and help support her widowed mother and younger siblings. She met and married Louis Chaney in 1944 and from that union three children, Louis, Clyneice, and Clareice were born. After her husband's death she moved from a homemaker to working as a private duty nurse, ultimately retiring from a clerical position with the Alabama State Board of Health. In 1967 she joined her life and family with Rev Christopher C. Williams and his four children (Christopher Williams, Alma (Williams) Kennedy Gwendolyn (Williams) Byrd, and LaVance Williams. Carrie and Rev. C.C. Williams enjoyed over 40 years of marriage where she served as the first lady of Southside Baptist Church for over 30 years Carrie was a strong and loving wife and mother, with a devoted faith in God. She daily demonstrated that love and caring in all her relationships.She daily demonstrated that love and caring in all her relationships. She lived fully and in the past 8 years traveled to Chicago and Pittsburgh for her grandchildren's college graduations and to New York and Florida for 2 great grandsons high school graduations. As her mind failed her hands continued to sew quilt pieces that were turned into approximately 50 baby quilts donated to young parents, a day care center and Foundry United Methodist church in Washington DC for their ministry. Carrie is preceded in death by her parents, both husbands (Louis Chaney and Rev. CC Williams, her brothers, Leselle, Caesar, David and Hphyear Bryant. She leaves a great legacy and memories that will be cherished by her brother LaVarn Bryant, sisters Lillie (Bryant) Barnes, and Mary Bell (Bryant) Jones; children Louis Chaney (Gwinda), Clyneice Chaney, Clareice Chaney, Christopher Williams Jr. (Sharon), Gwendolyn (Williams) Byrd (Lesle),and LeVance Williams (Sharon); grandchildren Chris Kennedy (Stephanie), Decher (Chaney) Hicklin, Simone Byrd, Alexis Chaney, Justin Chaney, and Keith and Kenneth Williams; great grandchildren, Keran and Aidan Kennedy; Milan Royster and Miori Hicklin; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends