Emma Mae Williams

Emma Mae Williams, 75, of Okmulgee, passed away on January 1, 2022, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, surrounded by family and friends. Her life was marked by faith, humility, and courage, and one of the last things she said was that she was ready to be with Jesus. Emma was born in Tahlequah on September 23, 1946, to Collins (Slim) and Bertha Williams. After moving to Okmulgee several years later, Slim and Bertha owned and operated the Help Ur Self Laundry on Oklahoma Street, where Emma was raised with her older brothers Jimmie and Kenneth and older sister Joyce. Her parents passed on their strength, love of family, and devout faith to their children, and this sustained Emma throughout her life. She attended Franklin Grade School, Okmulgee Junior High School, and Okmulgee High School, graduating in 1964. She was a good athlete, playing basketball, competing in archery, and enjoying bowling. She also loved music, and she was Elvis Presley’s number one fan. Emma loved her many friends, and she could often be found with them eating a piece of pie at Coleman’s Bakery, dancing at the high school, or dragging Main Street. Following high school, Emma studied at OSU in Stillwater. She worked for several years, married, and had two children, Virginia (Ginny) and John, who she raised alone. Emma faced many challenges at that time, but she worked hard and completed her studies in computer science at OSU Institute of Technology. After working for Tulsa County, Emma worked as a computer programmer at OSU Tech for thirty-five years, retiring in 2015. Emma was a logical person who loved solving challenging puzzles, so she was well-suited to programming computers and helping others. In her spare time, she enjoyed seeing others solve mysteries in detective novels, in Alfred Hitchcock movies, and on television shows like Law and Order. Emma’s favorite entertainment was watching sports, especially football games with OU, OSU, and the Dallas Cowboys, and her cheers and groans often rocked her house on Seminole Avenue. But her first love was always Jesus. In 1982, Emma took a challenge to “read the Bible through in ’82,” and she went on to read the entire Bible nearly every year after that. She had a deep understanding of right and wrong, and her words helped many others understand the Bible and increase their faith. Emma was a member of the Okmulgee First United Methodist Church, where she volunteered for the church pantry. She worked on the pantry’s computer system, and she also drove clients to and from the pantry when she was needed. Emma was generous with her time and money, and she loved treating her friends and relatives to a meal. Her favorite day of the year was Christmas, when she played Santa Claus for her family and opened presents like a happy child. Her family is grateful that God gave Emma one last happy Christmas in 2021. Emma was a loyal friend, and many of her friendships stretched back not just years but decades. She had a dry sense of humor, and she had a gift for saying silly things that made everyone laugh with her. She was part of a special group called “the circle of friends,” which met regularly to pray, laugh, and have a fun time. Emma took the words “love your neighbor” seriously, and to know her was indeed to love her. She was predeceased by her parents Slim and Bertha Williams, by her brother Kenneth Williams, and by her sister Joyce Benson-Gibson. She is survived by her brother Jimmie Williams and his wife Judy of Bartlesville, by her daughter Ginny Gray and her husband Eric of Bartlesville, by her son and caretaker John McMorrow of Okmulgee, and by her beautiful granddaughter Sydney Brinkley of Norman, as well as by numerous well-loved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Emma’s funeral will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 11 at Okmulgee First United Methodist Church. She loved flowers, especially yellow roses (which represent friendship, joy, and cheer), or contributions can be made to her favorite charity, the food pantry at the Okmulgee First United Methodist Church, 302 S. Seminole, Okmulgee, OK 74447. Arrangements have been entrusted to the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on Emma’s Tribute Page of our website at www.mcclendon-winters.com

Emma Mae Williams

September 23, 1946 - January 1, 2022