Geraldine Billie Williams

Mrs. Geraldine Billie Williams

Funeral Services will be held with a visitation beginning Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 12 noon at Tucker Choctaw Community COVID/Emergency Relief Facility (CERF) Building, and a Celebration of Life funeral mass on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in the Tucker Choctaw Community in Philadelphia, MS. Burial services immediately follow.

It is with deep sadness that the family announces the passing of Mrs. Geraldine Billie Williams, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who presently resides in New Orleans, LA. Mrs. Williams peacefully entered into eternal rest on Sunday, September 28, 2025, surrounded by loved ones following her heroic battle with acute respiratory distress from systemic scleroderma.

Born November 20, 1951, in Philadelphia, MS, Mrs. Williams was the second child and eldest daughter of nine children of the late Paul and Kathleen Chickaway Billie of the Tucker Choctaw community. Following the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, the Billie family moved to Chicago, IL, where she completed her secondary education. While in Chicago, she worked as a clerk typist for the U.S. Department of Interior at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Thereafter, the Billie family returned to the Tucker Choctaw community where she worked as a Pre-School Teacher at Tucker Elementary School.

Mrs. Williams briefly attended Cullman College in Cullman, AL where she met the Honorable Byron C. Williams, her husband of 52 years. Mrs. Williams completed her undergraduate degree in 1981 in Business Education at the University of Montana-Missoula, MT. After graduation, Mr. and Mrs. Williams relocated to New Orleans, LA where she began her employment and subsequent retirement as a Federal Deputy Clerk at the U.S. District Court-EDLA after 36 years of employment.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Darlene Billie Adams.

She is survived by her devoted husband, the Honorable Byron C. Williams of New Orleans, LA, and their four children and families: Dr. Powtawche Neengay Williams-Valerino (Orlando); Ta-Shina Kathleen Williams-Ramirez (Jose’ IV); Byron Craig Williams, Jr., Esq. (Sisy); and, Tahlako Billie Williams (Lisette). She is lovingly remembered by her six grandchildren: Nitakallo, Carter, Taloa, Tabokah, Jose V, and Nashoba. She is also survived by brothers: Robert Billie (Cathy); Howard Billie (Patricia); Randy Billie (Michelle); Paul Ray Billie (Maria); Andrew Billie (Sally) and sisters: Shirley Billie and Brenda Billie Bernard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations or contributions to be made to the Geraldine Billie Williams Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fund that will support Tucker Community Choctaw members who are pursuing a degree in early childhood education. Your donations or contributions can be mailed to Geraldine Billie Williams Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 8111 or 2051 Canton St. New Orleans , LA 70182. You can also send donations or contributions at the payment application below:

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