Anita Moore Williams

Anita Moore Williams

July 3, 1932 – September 10, 2014

Anita Stroud Moore Williams, 82, of Wilson passed away Wednesday.  A celebration of the beautiful, courageous life of Anita will be conducted 3 p.m. Saturday at Forest Hills Baptist Church, 1407 Forest Hills Road, Wilson.  Interment will follow in Maplewood Cemetery.  The Rev. Justin Deeter will officiate. The family will receive friends 2 – 2:45 p.m. Saturday prior to the service at Forest Hills Baptist Church and other times at the home. Anita, daughter of the late Andrew M. Moore, Sr. and Juanita S. Moore, was a native of Wilson County and attended public school and Atlantic Christian College (Barton) in Wilson.  She remained very close to her high school graduating class including longtime friends, “Charlie Angels”.  Anita fell in love and married her high school sweetheart, Rozier Williams.  Even though their lives went in different directions after divorcing, their love for each other endured until his death in 1979.  She never owned a car until obtaining her first driver’s license at the age of 49. “Ma Nita” and “Granny Ma”,  as she was known by her grandchildren, loved life, people but most of all, her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.  She was devoted to God, her family and her church.  She enjoyed traveling until her health began to decline.  Horses, angels, bird watching, hot air balloons, airplanes and working on her family genealogy were a source of excitement for “Nita”.  She shared this interest with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was generous with her love, encouragement, compassion and advice.  Her smiles . . . oh how she lit up a room with those twinkling eyes and joyful spirit!  She led so many, including family members, to God’s throne with her testimony and gentle witness. As a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church, formerly known as Five Points Missionary Baptist, she lived her life to the fullest as a Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout den mother, choir member, hand bell ringer and member of the Women’s Missionary Union.  After spending 70 years in the workforce and raising her three children, she enjoyed being home, sitting on her front porch, watching her birds and greeting passersby. Anita is survived by her daughter, Terri W. Johnson (Ollie) of Wilson; her son, Will R. Williams, Jr. of Wilson; her grandchildren, Carla D. Howell (Greg), Sheila H. Laningham (Brian), Roger J. Hawley-Wilhoit (Ed), Richard Shane Ford (Hannah), Cristin W. Hardie (Michael) and Amber W. Martin; her step-grandchild, Connie J. Davis (David); her great-grandchildren, Grayson Howell, Collin Laningham, Benjamin Ford, Ruby Ford and Tanner Hussey; her step-great-grandchild, Madison Davis; her son-in-law, Bob Rochelle and her grand dog, Cody. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra W. Rochelle; her great-grandson, Jonathon Laningham; her parents, Juanita S. and Andrew M. Moore, Sr.; her step-mother, Mae R. Moore; her sister, Joan M. Barnes Lamm and her brother, Andrew M. Moore, Jr. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be directed to the Forest Hills Baptist Church/Building Fund or Scholarship Fund, 1407 Forest Hills Road, Wilson, NC 27896. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.