Ernestine Campbell Williams

Ernestine Williams (nee Campbell) was born and raised in Pensacola. She held many different names and came into the world with the name of Susan. Her aunts secretly went into the hospital and changed her name to Ernestine so she would have a name honoring her dad. From that moment forward, she would have many names throughout her lifetime: Ernie, Ern, Mom, Mama E, Nernie (a name given to her by a neighbor girl who couldn't pronounce Ernestine), and Memaw (which was probably her favorite). In honor of her first name, her older sister nicknamed her Susie Q, which she also loved.

Ernestine attended Woodham High School and married a boy from the old neighborhood. She and her husband, Michael, built a beautiful life together as they raised their two sons, Joey and Jimmy, whom she cherished beyond measure. They also welcomed their grandchildren, Brett, Zoe, and Zane, and later Brittnee and Allyson, which only expanded the capacity of her love. Her devotion to her family was the heart of who she was. No matter the season of life, they were her purpose, her pride, and her joy.

Ernestine walked through life making sometimes interesting decisions, but she did so with a flair all her own. She had a wonderfully wicked sense of humor-quick, sharp, and endlessly witty-revealing her uncanny ability to understand the heart of every situation. For everyone fortunate enough to know her, she offered a rare kind of love-one that made you feel seen, valued, and treasured while in her company. She possessed a gift for welcoming others exactly as they were.

Her nieces and nephews held a special place in her world. Her nieces especially remember long "girls only" summer days at the beach, enjoying dolphins and sand dunes, filled with laughter, stories, and the kind of ease that comes only when you're with someone who loves you completely.

Ern was always stylish, having the perfect outfit, hat, and shoes (usually her beloved Birkenstocks) for pretty much every occasion. Though she was always fashionable, she was equally at home cheering in the stands at the ballpark, hanging out with the beloved family pets (most recently Mika and Miley), or enjoying nature. She found deep happiness in fishing adventures, including those at her parents' fish camps, family camping adventures, and the quiet beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains – which next to the beach was one of her favorite places outdoors.

Perfectly imperfect, she embraced life in all its messiness and magic. Even in the face of death, she made hard decisions and navigated challenges in her own courageous way. Her legacy is not one of flawlessness, but one of connection and love that left a lasting impression on everyone she touched. She will be profoundly, tenderly missed.

May her memory be a blessing and may the love she gave, no matter the name one knew her as, freely continue to ripple outward in the lives of all who knew her.

Ernestine was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Katie Campbell, her beloved husband Micheal Williams, and sister-in-law, Patty Campbell.

She is survived by her sons Joey (Jennifer) and Jimmy Williams (special friend Tammy Copley); grandchildren (Brett, Zane, Zoe, Brittnee, and Allyson), & great-grand-children (Joshua and Ella); brother Buddy Campbell, sister Sheran (David) Noles, numerous nieces and nephews, and her pups (Mika and Miley).

Services will be at Pensacola Memorial Gardens on Friday, March 13, 2026 (a date she would have found wildly humorous) at 10:00 AM.