Vernice Williams
Vernice Williams went to her heavenly home on September 28, 2019.
Services will be held at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, October 5, at 11 a.m. Visitation hours will be held at House of People Funeral Home on Friday, October 4, from 1 – 5 p.m. Family and Friends hour will be held Antioch M.B. Church at 6 p.m.
She was born on July 29, 1927 to Mr. Essex Lyles and Jessie Lyles in the Browns Wells Community in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. She was 92 years old. She joined Pine Leaf Baptist Church at an early age. She joined Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, MS., where she was an active member and sang in the choir. She was also a member of Antioch MB Church with her sisters for a short period. She was a member of St. James MB Church in Hazlehurst where she served on the Mother’s Board for many years. She attended church religiously until her health begin to fail.
She was employed by Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital in Hazlehurst, Mississippi for almost 30 years. She first worked in housekeeping, laboratory assistant, X-ray assistant, then later as an X-ray technician. As an X-ray technician she was praised for her working skills by doctors not only from Hazlehurst but Jackson, MS. She was loved by everyone she touched in the medical field.
As a mother, she was very active in the school system as a booster club member, PTA, and volunteer. She believed in actively supporting her children academically and extracurriculm activities. Her educational support for her children led them to become an accountant, a nurse, a health care analyst and trainer, a retired navy officer and a retired air force officer. She raised so many children that she did not give birth to from Chicago, Hazlehurst and surrounding areas. Her pride and joy was raising her grandson and great grandson. She never turned anyone away. She would feed ever child in Hazlehurst, if she needed to. What an amazing woman.
She was proceeded in death by her parents (Essex and Jessie Lyells), along with six siblings and grandson Michael “Moochie” Williams. She leaves to cherish her memory Matthew Jones (husband), one sister Johnnie Mae McCray of Chicago, Illinois.
She was married to Matthews Jones Jr of Hazlehurst, Mississippi.
Daughters: Carolyn Bailey (Saul) of Memphis, TN, great-grandsons Corrie (Danielle), Daryl , Ladarrious (great-great granddaughter London and A’Niyla), granddaughter Aroneisha and great-great grandson Deron; Diane Williams and grandson Demetrius Dwayne; Barbara Higgins (Charles Sr.) and grandson Charles Jr (great grandson Charles III) and granddaughter Lynice.
Sons: Larry Earl Williams (Susie) and granddaughter Mia Boyd-Waterman (TJ and great-grandson Byron, Jada, Aiden) and grandson Dominique; Robert Charles Williams (Kim) of Daytona Beach, Florida and grandsons Kristopher, Johnathan (Melissa and great granddaughter Joshlyn), Shuan (Brionnah and great granddaughter Juliana), Brandon, Ravyn and Solomon.
Step Children: Rachel Salu (Olaseni “Bob”) of Plano, Texas; Ruby Jones (grandson Matthew Jr) of Plano, Texas; Billy Jones of Indiana. A host of step grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.