Bea Russell Williams

Wilorena “Bea” Russell Williams was born July 2, 1951 to J.M. and Dorothy (Stockdill) Russell.  Bea passed away on December 22, 2023 after a month-long illness.  Bea was raised in Grady and graduated from Grady High School in 1969. She attended the University of Arkansas where she met the love of her life, Stephen Williams. Steve and Bea married in 1972 and moved to Little Rock in 1973. After moving to Little Rock, Bea began her 28-year career with the Arkansas Real Estate Commission retiring in 2001 to begin her greatest career ever, being a full-time Grandma.  She is a member of Holland Chapel Baptist Church in Benton.

Bea was preceded in death by her parents J.M. and Dorothy Russell, her father and mother-in-law Ronald and Martha Leona Williams, and two brothers-in-law Ronnie and Lindell Williams.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Steve Williams; son Jeffrey and his wife Kim Williams of Brownsburg, Ind., daughter Kelley and her husband Shea Cochran of Benton, grandchildren Lane Cochran, Cameron Cochran, Lizzie Williams, Allie Williams, and Aaron Cochran; three brothers Marvin (Judy) Russell of Hyattsville, Md., Tom (Teresa) Russell of Benton, John (Kresta) Russell of San Angelo, Texas; two sisters Janice (Wayne) Maroney of Grady and Patricia (Joe) Finch of Little Rock; one brother-in-law Terry (Nan) Williams of Witcherville, and two sisters-in-law Ann Williams of Greenwood and Jeanette Williams of Fort Smith; and several nieces and nephews.

Bea’s greatest treasures were her five grandchildren and she loved to cheer them on, no matter the activity they were involved in.  She loved the technology that allowed her to be at their events even when distance or her declining health did not allow her to be there physically.

Bea had a servant’s heart and loved working in the children's ministries at Park Place Baptist Church. She was a committed preschool Sunday School teacher, Children’s Church Leader, and Awana Cubbies leader for many years. She was Ms. Bea or Grandma Bea to numerous neighborhood and church friends.

Visitation will be Wednesday, December 27, 2023 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Smith Funeral Home. Funeral will be Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 11:00 am at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home.  Burial will be Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 3:00 pm at Grady Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Lane Cochran, Cameron Cochran, Aaron Cochran, Anthony Taylor, Michael Maroney, Jonathan Finch, Mark Williams, Lance Williams, Todd Williams, Toby Williams, David Williams, Darin Williams.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holland Chapel Baptist Church Student Ministries in Benton.