Ella Jean (Parks) Williams

During the brilliance of a brand-new day, as it winged its way, early in the morning, God looked upon her with gentle eyes and tender compassion and claimed her for His own. Our mother and friend, Ella Jean Parks Williams, finally triumphed into eternal life on Friday, August 16, 2024, at the Piney Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, in Kernersville, NC. 

Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Ralph Hampton, Rev. Casey Walker and Rev. Ronald Howell officiating.  Burial will be in Scenic Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Friday evening at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. 

Ella Jean, nicknamed Sally, was born in Traphill, NC on April 4, 1937, to the late Dewitt and Magdaline Brown Parks. She was an only child. 

Ella Jean received her primary education in Wilkes County and graduated high school from Yadkin County High School, in Booneville, NC. Ella Jean furthered her education by obtaining a Business Degree from Elkin Business College in 1965. 

Ella Jean married Louis Calvin Williams, Sr., on July 1, 1957. Unto this union was born six children, Jery, Frankie, Louis Jr., Keith, Eddie, and Lisa. 

Ella Jean joined First Baptist Church in 1960 where she served faithfully for many years in several capacities, such as church hostess, a member of the Senior Choir and the Usher Board, President of the Senior Choir, Director of the Easter and Christmas plays, Church Historian, and a Deaconess. 

As the first African American female to hold a white-collar position in Wilkes County, Ella Jean became a business professional after being employed by Northwestern Bank, in June 1965. During this tenure, Ella Jean served as a proof operator until promoted to Regional Trainer, traveling the east coast, from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Ella Jean survived three mergers with Northwestern, First Union and Wachovia Banks, until her retirement in 1998, after thirty-three years of service.  Following her retirement from the corporate world, Ella Jean became employed by the Wilkes County School System as a full-time bus driver. She held this position for 12 years until retiring, again in 2015. 

In her early years, Ella Jean was an avid sports enthusiast. She played first baseman and pitcher for Lincoln Heights Softball Team, coached by Alexander Erwin. Ella was well known as “Mama Cub” as she cheered on her children at local baseball games. She was a lover of music and playing the piano, which brought many laughs, from the friends whom she tried to entertain. Her favorite musicians were Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Shirley Caesar, and the Rev. James Cleveland. Being a natural-born entrepreneur, Ella was also a sales associate for Tupperware, from 1980 to 1982. Many a Wilkes County household was enlightened to the world of durable storage products, as she excitedly held home parties for her customers. 

Ella Jean’s civic duties and accomplishments included board member positions on the Lincoln Heights Recreation Association, as Fund Raising Chairman, (1989-1990); Anti-Liquor-By-The-Drink (1989); S.A.F.E. (Sheltered Aid for Families in Emergency), (1990-1993); the North Wilkesboro Planning Commission Board, (1992-1994); the United Way, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council, and the North Wilkesboro Housing Authority, on which she served for eleven years. 

Ella Jean served as Worth Matron of Light of the Foothills, Chapter #678, Order of Eastern Star, PHA, (2000-2010), receiving Worth Matron of the Year award in 2004. 

Ella Jean loved to travel and was blessed to experience London, Paris, Frankfurt Germany, Honolulu, Hawaii, Las Vegas Nevada, Atlantic City, Orlando Florida, and the Holy Land. 

Ella was preceded in death by her beloved husband of sixty-one years, Louis Williams, Sr., and her youngest son, Eddie. 

Left to cherish her memory are her remaining children: Jerry, of Wilkesboro, NC; Frankie (Effley, Sr.), of Kernersville, NC; Louis, Jr. (fiancé, Brenna Booker) of Holly Springs, NC; Patrick Keith and Lisa Carol, both of Winston-Salem; daughter-in-law, Lori (Eddie, deceased); ten grandchildren, Christopher “Joel,” Nichica, Jimmie (“Rue”), Amber, Effley, Jr, Jamar, Jasmine, Michael, Louis III (Tre’), and Brian Keith; six great-grandchildren, Milan, Ravis, Imani, Ariele, Brielle, and Halee; brother-in-law, Dewey Thomas (Myrna), Indianapolis, IN; two very dear sisters-in-law, Sarah Davenport Williams of Wilkesboro and Jennifer Williams of Winston-Salem; a host of nieces and nephews, and special sister-friends, Eleanor Holbrook, Pauline ‘Palmer’ Hill and Carolyn Johnson, who both preceded her in death.  

As Ella Jean’s health was compromised, in 2019, she was blessed by many angels who assisted with her care giving. God revealed the goodness of His mercy, allowing those such as Crystal Parks, Dot Turner, Sarah Dodd, Patricia Robertson, Molly Howell, Mary Jones, and Hazel Barnes to play integral roles in her care and support. 

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.