Althea Williams

1923 - 2025

Althea Williams
04/08/1923 - 07/30/2025
Althea Rhodes Williams of Houston, TX passed away on July 30, 2025 at the age of 102. Althea was born in Amarillo, TX on April 8, 1923 to Benjamin Wesley Rhodes and Vera Cammack Rhodes. Althea grew up in Amarillo primarily with her mother; her father Benjamin Rhodes served in WWI in France and passed away due to complications from the war when Althea was young. As a child, Althea took both piano and ballet lessons and spent the summers in nearby Canyon, TX with her Aunt Esther while her mother attended college courses toward a Master's in Education. Althea and her mother briefly moved in with her Aunt Rosie in Dallas during her freshman year of high school (attending Boude Storey High School), then moved back to Amarillo where she would graduate from Amarillo High School. During WWII, Althea and her mother served in the civil service in Washington D.C., assigned as typists using shorthand; this was Althea's first time outside of Texas. A few years later they moved in with her Uncle Bragg in Hollywood, CA who was an ENT Physician. Althea´s mother started a new school in Hollywood which Althea helped run. Althea also briefly performed at the Earl Carroll Theatre and acted in stage productions at the Geller Theater. While in California, Althea met William Hansen, Sr. and married, thereafter moving to Houston, TX so that William could attend Baylor Medical School. Althea and William had two sons, William Jr. "Bill" and Richard "Rick" Hansen. Althea raised her sons in the Westbury neighborhood in Houston and continued residing in that same house until the last decade of her life. Both of her sons attended Texas A&M University, where Bill met his wife, Eugenia "Genie" Simmons. Rick earned his JD and worked as a public defender during his career as an attorney. Bill earned his PharmD and worked as a pharmacist and teacher during his career. Althea wed James "Jimmy" Williams in 1973; they remained married until his passing in 1989. Althea worked in administration at the City of Houston Legal Department beginning in the 1970s until her retirement. One of Althea's greatest passions was art and painting. She took art classes from Amarillo College and Houston Christian University, and painted hundreds of pieces in her home studio over several years. Her favorite subject was landscapes, and Renoir was one her favorite artists. Althea also kept performing dance as a member of local troupes including the Tip Top Tappers and Southwest Swingers. Althea loved piano and music, and was involved in her church's singing group and bible studies at West End Baptist Church as well as the community at West University Baptist Church. Althea is preceded in death by her sons and daughter-in-law, Bill, Genie, and Rick. Althea is survived by her grandson Todd William Hansen, his wife Kelle Kampa, granddaughter Kaitlyn Hansen Jackson, her husband Matthew Jackson, and great-grandson, Connor Kampa Hansen. A memorial service will for Althea will be held at CityRise Church | West University Baptist, located at 6218 Auden St, Houston, TX 77005, on September 20, 2025, beginning at 11:30 am.