Myrtle Williams

Mrs. Myrtle Williams, 93, of Martin died Monday, August 21, 2023.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Parham Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

On May 25, 1930, in Water Valley, Mississippi, Walter and Flora Prude were blessed with Myrtle Virgus Prude. She was the oldest of eight children and resided in Marion, Indiana, Troy, Tennessee and spent the majority of her life in Memphis, Tennessee, and the last 15 years in Martin, TN.  As a young child Myrtle worked the cotton fields many years, and later during adulthood, worked for such companies as Goodwill, Kimco, and Kings Daughter and Sons. She was known for her exceptional cooking, which fortunately most of her children inherited, except Deborah.

Myrtle’s Christian journey began at Mt. Vernon MB Church in Memphis, Tennessee under the leadership of the late Reverend James Netters. In her latter days she enjoyed worshiping with the body of Christ with congregations at Wiley and New Hope United Methodist churches. It was so important for her to fellowship with other believers, she rode an hour each way to these churches which were under the global leadership of Rev. Jimmy Carter.

Myrtle married Jerry C. Williams were married 40 years and through this union had eight children, all of whom were the loves of her life.  Even after divorcing many years later, William and Myrtle remained friends.  She enjoyed spending time with her children, grands, and great grandchildren. Anyone who was close to her knew her as loving, funny, and feisty. One of her favorite past times was going to the casino, where she was often a winner.  She absolutely loved wrestling and spent many hours watching it.  She wouldn’t talk to anyone when it was on and no one could tell her it wasn’t real!  It was best not to bother her at all when it was on.  Myrtle also loved to travel.

Family was everything to her. Even as her health declined, she wouldn’t miss the opportunity to give love to and receive love from her family and friends. Myrtle loved her family deeply and her family reciprocated that love. Always one you could depend upon when times got tough, she often cared for her grandchildren when called upon.  Her wisdom was highly sought after and incomparable, as she was called upon by many in the family for finding solutions to many life’s issues.

Myrtle leaves a legacy that will be treasured and preserved for generations to come. In her last hours, she was well alert and adamant about what she wanted and did not want. Her mind was sharp as a tack. She transitioned peacefully in her sleep, painless and on God’s terms, which is what she wanted. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Flora Prude, brothers John Prude, JQ Prude, sisters Katie Hampton, Esther Williams, and Alma Williams, former husband, Jerry Williams and son, Anthony Williams, and her daughter, Jacqueline Williams.

She leaves to cherish the memories her brothers Arvin Prude and J.K. Prude, as well as children Jerry (Michele) Williams, Flora (Ervin deceased), Anita James, Deborah (Sylvester), LaTanja (Thomas deceased), and 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren and an adopted son, Riley Boyd. Myrtle lived to be 93 years young and had a good and full life. She came in like a lamb and went out like a lion.  But she is in the arms of Jesus now! What a Legacy!

McPhearson-Rawls Funeral Home - Union City 731-885-8110