Mary Jo Williams

Service Details

Date:  Friday, January 13, 2017

Location:  New Omega Baptist Church, 5731 Northwestern Avenue, Racine, WI

Visitation: 10:00am – 11:00am

Service: 11:00am

Burial:  Graceland Cemetery, Racine, WI

Racine – Mary Jo Williams was born on August 10, 1942, to the union of Thomas and Susie Bumpus in Paducah, Kentucky. Mary Jo received her formal education at Washington Park High School in Racine, Wisconsin.

At the age 16, Mary Jo lost her mother and father. She and her three younger siblings were then cared for by their older sister, Angeline Leona Prescott. At the age 17, Mary Jo and her four siblings moved to Cleveland, Ohio to live with their Uncle James Bumpus, Sr. and Aunt Pearl Bumpus. It was there that Mary Jo accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and she united with The Church of the Living God, The Pillar and Ground of the Truth.

At age 18, Mary Jo returned to Racine to marry her teenage sweetheart, Robert F. Williams. They were united in marriage on August 19, 1960.

Mary Jo loved her family dearly. She could not speak enough about her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. They were the joy of her life.

Mary Jo Williams, nee: Bumpus, departed this life on January 7, 2017. She leaves to cherish her memory, son, Robert Williams, (fiancé, Pere Epps); daughters, Deborah Briggs, and Felicia (Terry) Howell of Racine, Wisconsin; brothers, Thomas Franklin (Tammy) Bumpus of Racine, Wisconsin; Ralph (Norma) Bumpus of Twinsburg, Ohio; sister in law, Elvira Bumpus of Racine, Wisconsin; other brothers and sisters, Mary (Charles) Houston of Glen Carbon, Illinois; Asentha Bell and Alphonso Bumpus of Nashville, Tennessee; James Bumpus Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio; Charlotte (Bobby) Green of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Four grandchildren, Justin Johnson, Titania Cabell and Dalon Williams all of Racine, Wisconsin; April Harris of Jackson, Mississippi. Three great grandchildren, T’Kai, Kobe and Savannah all of Racine; brothers in law, Lee Williams, Joe (Margaret) Williams of Trezevant, TN; Curlie (Retha) Williams of Milan, TN; sisters in law,  Rachel Williams, Trezevant, TN; Dorothy Williams, Racine, WI; Flora Strayhorn, Atlanta, GA; Georgia (Jimmy) Rowell, Dayton, OH, Wilma (Emmanuel) Nwanze, Lagos, Africa; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Very special to her were her DAILY telephone buddies, her sister in law, Dorothy Williams and her cousin/sister, Ophelia Adkisson both of Racine, Wisconsin.

Mary Jo was proceeded in death by her husband, Robert Williams; her mother and father, Susie Elizabeth and Thomas Bumpus; her brother, Melvin Bumpus Sr; and sister, Angeline Leona Prescott; father and mother in law, Gentry Williams and Gladys Williams; brothers in law, James Williams and Gentry Williams; sister in law, Mary Lou Williams.

A celebration of Mary Jo’s life will be held on Friday, January 13, 2017, 11:00am, at New Omega Baptist Church, 5731 Northwestern Avenue. Visitation will be from 10:00am until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery.