Joan Edwards Williams

JOAN EDWARDS WILLIAMS of Little Rock, Ark. entered into the presence of the Lord on Dec. 19, 2013 at the age of 70 after complications from a stroke. She was born Aug. 13, 1943, in Monroe, La. She was the daughter of Elza Matthew Edwards and Ruth Lee Defee. She grew up in Bastrop, La. and moved to Pine Bluff, Ark. in 1960, where she was a 1961 graduate of Pine Bluff High School. She married J.W. Evans Jr. and had two sons. While in Pine Bluff, Joan worked as a legal secretary for several different law firms. In 1977, she received a BA in History where she was honored as the valedictorian at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She taught for only one year before beginning her next career as a court reporter. Being a mother and grandmother was the job she took most seriously. She served as team mother for various baseball and football teams for her son, Matthew and was very involved with the Band Parents association, the Cub Scouts, and Pine Bluff Judo Kai for her son, Joe. Being a grandmother was just the icing on the cake, she was very involved with Katie in gymnastics, dance, acting and never missed a game that Katie cheered at. With Bobby, fun at Chuck E Cheese, trips for toys and weekend adventures kept them very busy. In 1980, she married Judge Randall L. Williams, her soul mate. They lived for many years in Pine Bluff then moved to Hot Springs and finally Little Rock. She was very active in her church, Pulaski Heights United Methodist where she served as an usher, worked in mission activities including UMCOR and Family Promise. She was a Stephen Minister and a member of the "Saints and Sinners" Sunday school class in Hot Springs and served on the Board of Stewards of the First Methodist Church in Pine Bluff, Ark. Joan loved keeping herself physically fit, she was a member of many exercise classes and during her 40's and 50's she was an avid tennis player. She was especially proud of the fact that the tennis team she played on at the Pine Bluff Country Club won USTA nationals for her division. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Heckatoo Heritage Foundation, United Methodist Women, Heights Neighborhood Association and the Quapaw Quarter Association. She was a Master Gardner and loved planting and tending to her yard. She had a passion for education and loved attending Quest classes, Bible study groups and Road Scholar travels. An avid reader, non-fiction was her choice. She loved both movies and theatre, from The Rep to Broadway, a great show was such a thrill to her. She loved to play games, including cards, dominoes and Mah-jongg. She was a talented decorator, helping many people with their homes and also loved restoring older homes. Traveling was also a passion of hers, but being at home with Scarlett and Daisy, her two dogs was the absolute best. Joan is preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Randall L. Williams. She is survived by her sons, Joseph(Joe) Evans III and Matthew Evans; stepdaughter, Camille Williams Bennett; her grandchildren, Katie Joan Evans and Bobby Evans. She leaves behind many wonderful friends and loved ones. She will be missed by many. A memorial service celebrating Joan's life will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, Ark, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 at 1 p.m., with a reception to immediately follow in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to PHUMC-Missions, Care for Animals or your favorite charity. Please visit www.cremationsofarkansas.com for online condolences and to sign the guest register.