Hester White Williams

At 91 years of age, Kizzie Hester White Williams, affectionately known as ‘Mom’ or ‘Granny’, passed away on Tuesday morning, January 28th, 2025 at the home of her daughter, Deborah Neu, in Benton, Arkansas.

Hester was born on Tuesday, October 17th, 1933 in Bladenboro, NC to the late Oscar Marvin White and Naomi Ruth Hester. She was a graduate of Bladenboro High School, and attended Queens Business School in Charlotte, NC. 

In her earlier years, Hester was employed at Bladenboro High School in Bladenboro, NC as the school secretary. After relocating with her family to Lumberton, NC, she worked as Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Lumberton City Schools. She later held the position of School Treasurer and Administrative Assistant at Upchurch Jr. High School in Raeford, NC until her retirement. She was an exceptional employee who enjoyed engaging with staff and students during her 30 years as a North Carolina Public School employee. 

After retirement, she enjoyed painting, crafting, playing golf, and especially enjoyed watching her grandchildren play sports. Hester also loved traveling and spending time with her special friend. She loved shopping for treasures at the local thrift shops and taking long walks on the beach collecting shells. She was very artistic and used the treasures that she found in her crafts. Hester looked forward to afternoons where she could indulge in a scoop of butter pecan ice cream on Southport’s Riverfront as she watched the ships pass by. Annually, she worked tirelessly planning and organizing family reunions at White Lake. She was a classy lady with a heart of gold, and her greatest joy was spending time with her family. 

During her lifetime, she was active in her churches, Galeed Baptist Church in Bladenboro, NC, First Baptist Church of Raeford, NC and First Baptist Church of Oak Island, NC.

In addition to her parents, Hester was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Freddie Gordon Williams, her youngest daughter, Kizzie Beth Jackson, her grandson, Anthony Gordon Jackson, her siblings, Angelyn Mae Elkins, Elma Mariah McCommas, twin brothers William Oscar White & Joseph Arthur White, and special friend, William (Bill) Lucas. 

She is survived by her children, Hope Shadding Hyer (Wayne) of Southport, NC, Jill Williams Brock (Bill) of Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, and Deborah Ann Neu (Michael) of Benton, Arkansas. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christopher Coughlin (Lydia), Joshua Coughlin (Krista), Lindsey McCormick, Eric Shadding (Corey Amerault), Max and Sam Beeler, Lilly, Charlie, and Blake Neu; her great grandchildren Adriana, Aniyah and Deshawn McCormick, Daytona and Juliana Jackson, Peyton Jacobs, Brooklyn Tillman, Nox and Beckham Shadding, KayLeigh and Britton Townsend, her sister-in-law Doris White, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Hester was dearly loved and she loved even more in return.

A graveside service will be held at Galeed Baptist Church Cemetery in Bladenboro, NC on Saturday, February 8th at 2:30pm (A private family viewing will be held from 1:00-2:00pm at the church prior to the graveside service) 

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to Pleasant Hill Senior Services, 3418 Main Street, Suite 100, Bryant, Arkansas, 72022, or First Baptist Church Oak Island Building Fund, 4608 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island, NC 28465.