| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 16 May 2003.
Willie A. Frisbee obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 26 Oct 2006.
Mrs. Lula Jane Williams, age 82 of Grassy Fork was born on October 10, 1924 in the Gulf section of Cocke County and died on October 26, 2006. She was one of eight children born to Martin and Eliza Rathbone Frisbee. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Ralph Ford Jr. and Haskell Williams; sons, Abe Ford, Glenn Ray Ford; daughter, Frances Ellen Ford; grandsons, Gary Vaughn Ford and Michael Todd Ford; sister, Opal Lee Hill; brother, Coy Frisbee, Lee Frisbee, Elmer Frisbee and Willie Frisbee; parents, Martin and Eliza Rathbone Frisbee; sister-in-law, Helen Frisbee; brothers-in-law, Albert C. Hill, Ed Grooms, Lee Williams and C. B. Ford; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lewis and Eula Ford. Survivors include her son, Martin Lewis Ford of home; daughters and sons-in-law, Louise and Bill McGaha of Clinton, Sue and Gary Ford of Grassy Fork, Jamie Stokely of Cosby; special daughter-in-law, Patsy Ford of Grassy Fork; grandchildren, Billy McGaha, Brandon McGaha, and Ben McGaha of Clinton, Tn., Barry and wife Sharon of Bostic N.C., April and husband Rhett Smith, Wesley Ford, Casey Ford, Heather Ford, all of Grassy Fork, Scott McGaha and fiance Rebecca Gregg of Cosby, Michael McGaha and fiance Heather Carmichael of Ravens Branch; great-grandchildren, Jessica and Ashley McGaha of Ravens Branch, Ethan Riley Ford and Alison Smith of Grassy Fork, Carlie Rae Ford of Newport; sister, Selma and her husband Fred Ogle of Newport; brother, Carl and wife Alvonia Frisbee of Newport; sisters-in-law, Betty Joe Frisbee, Nita Frisbee, a very special in-law, Leaston Frisbee, also Mozella Ford, Winnie Williams and Mary Ellen Baxter; brother-in-law, Ebid Earl Ford and wife Shirley. Lula will be greatly missed by her family and all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She loved the Lord very much and testified of his glorious works everyday to those around her. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, October 29, 2006 at Costner-Maloy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Randall Frisbee and Rev. Danny Greene officiating. Interment will follow at the Ford Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Saturday evening at Costner-Maloy Funeral Home. Arrangements by Costner-Maloy.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 29 Oct 2006.
Lula Williams, subject of winning Essay, Dies at 82
By: Duay O'Neil
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
10-29-2006
GRASSY FORK- Lula Jane Williams, whose determination and positive outlook helped her overcome tremendous physical problems and personal griefs, died Thursday evening at her home in Grassy Fork. She was 82. Earlier this month, Williams was the subject of the winning entry in the Plain Talk's "A Place Called Home" essay contest. Williams' daughter-in-law, Patricia Ford, chose her mother-in-law as the subject of "The Most Memorable Person in My Family." In writing of Williams, Ford said, "When I married her son, Glenn Ford, ... I had no idea what a bonus I was getting by becoming the daughter-in-law of Mam Ma Lula...All the negative thoughts we associate with the term 'mother-in-law' do not apply to her." Ford went on to tell of Williams' personal losses of two infant children and her first husband, whose death left her with four children and another on the way in the 1950s. Williams later lost another son who died as an adult. In addition to these troubles, Williams also faced with dignity and faith three separate diagnoses of cancer, an aneurysm, heart problems, and a broken hip. In an interview on October 1 of this year, when asked to what she attributed her success in overcoming so many adversities in her life, Williams emphatically replied, "My faith, plus you just can't lay down and give up!" Williams was born in The Gulf, now the Martha Sundquist State Forest, the fourth child and first daughter of Martin Ulysses and Eliza Avaline (Rathbone) Frisbee. Eventually the family grew to eight children. Williams' father worked for Champion Paper and Fiber Company, which operated a logging business in the area for several years. At one point, the area included a school, a store, a dormitory, and homes for several families. In addition to his work for the lumber company, Frisbee also farmed, and his daughter Lula, along with her siblings, grew up knowing what comprised hard work in tending the family garden, stock, and caring for one another. She also developed an extensive knowledge of the wildlife and vegetation of the area. Shortly after the end of World War II, she married Ralph Ford Jr., a young veteran who had returned to his Grassy Fork home after being discharged from the service. He had patriotically served his county in the European Theatre, seeing action in Germany, France, and England. The couple had seven children, two of whom died as infants. She later married Haskell Williams. As the years passed and her health declined, Williams continued to "do her part," helping with gardening chores and housework as much as she could. One of her greatest joys was loving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Among her survivors are one son, three daughters, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one sister, and one brother. There are several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted this afternoon (Sunday) in the chapel of Costner-Maloy Funeral Home with Rev. Randall Frisbee and Rev. Danny Greene officiating. Interment will follow in the Ford Cemetery.
|
Search | Advanced Search
1924 - 2006 (82 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
= Link to Google Maps