Willaunell "Woodie" Williams

Willaunell Woodard Williams, 85 of Tybee Island, passed away Friday, November 7, 2025 at Spanish Oaks Retreat. Born May 17, 1940 in Laurens County, GA, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Doris Fountain Woodard. She was better known by her family and friends as "Woodie". She was the last surviving charter member of Chapel by the Sea Baptist Church on Tybee Island, where she was a longtime member of the WMU, and served as the church Hostess. She was also unofficially known as the "Church Greeter", welcoming every visitor that came to worship. Woodie was a longtime member of the Tybee American Legion Post 154, where she enjoyed playing bingo with her many friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Weldon Williams, her daughter, Dorcia Lee Williams, her sisters, Margie Cochran and Wilma Woodard, her brothers, Roy Woodard and Garey Woodard.

She is survived by two sons, Johnny E. Williams (Tabitha) of Savannah, and Charles L. Williams (Tamera Miyasato) of Rapid City, South Dakota. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Lucian Miyasato-Williams, Kacey Lee Bender (Robert), Tucker Johnny Williams, her great-grandchildren, Alec and Savannah, her sister, Denise Woodard of Brunswick, GA, her brother, Randall Woodard of Nashville, TN, her sisters-in-law, Terri Woodard, and Anita Woodard, and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give a special heartfelt thank you to her sister-friend Nancy Ferriera for her many years of love and care given to their mother.

Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at Fox & Weeks, Islands Chapel.

The Funeral Service to honor her life will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at Chapel by the Sea Baptist Church, Tybee Island, with The Rev. Dr. David Laughner officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens following the service.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Chapel by the Sea Baptist Church, or Spanish Oaks Hospice.