Obituary of Beatrice Vashti Williams

Beatrice Massey-Williams, the daughter of the late John Massey and Caroline Ware-Massey, was born on November 20, 1920, in Chester, South Carolina. She departed this life on January 8, 2022, surrounded by her loved ones. She accepted Christ at an early age at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Chester, South Carolina. Beatrice received her education at Finley High School in Chester, graduating in 1938. She married the love of her life, Joe David Williams in 1942, who preceded her in death. The two relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in the early 1950's. In Baltimore, Beatrice joined Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church (now known as Mt. Pleasant Church and Ministries), where she loved her bishop, Clifford M. Johnson Jr. She was a devoted member for over 70 years. Beatrice was a faithful member of the church's Silver Saints ministry as well. In this ministry she enjoyed fellowshipping with the other members, which included traveling and annual tea parties. Beatrice loved to cook, bake, and enjoyed watching sports, especially wrestling. Everyone loved her homemade cakes. They also loved her warm, welcoming, and kind spirit. She made everyone who encountered her feel like family. She was known as Ms. Bea to family friends, but most called her "mama" or "grandma" because that's how she loved. Everyone thought it was so funny that she craved and enjoyed eating crabs and drinking non-alcoholic beer until her very last days of life. In addition to her husband and parents, Beatrice was preceded in death by six sisters, Gillie, Rosie, Essie, Etna, Elizabeth, and Henrietta; two brothers, Charles Walker Massey and John Jackson; two daughters, Josie-Bea and Texanna; three sons, Walker (Dub), James (Pimp), and Joe Jr.; two granddaughters, LaCharro and Larryn; one great grandson, Dontay; and one great granddaughter, Saige. Beatrice leaves to cherish her memory, two daughters, Essie Williams-Cornwell (Williams) and Gillie Williams; two sons, Larry (Tammy) and Roland Williams; one son-in-law, William Cooke Jr.; a devoted niece / daughter, Laura Clark; twenty-two grandchildren; thirty-five great grandchildren; twelve great great grandchildren; one extended family member, Rosa Fair; and a host of family and friends.