Obituary of Marva Charlean Williams

Marva Charlean Williams (Thompson) was born April 21, 1939, to the late Thelma Thompson (Kelley) and Roscoe Conklin Thompson, in Springfield, Illinois. She relocated, at age 9, with her sisters Barbara and Gloria, to Clairton, Pennsylvania following the death of their mother, Thelma, where they were reared by Aunt Ardalia Hill. At an early age, Marva grew in faith and confessed belief in Christ. She joined First AME church, in Clairton. At age 12, she met and fell in love with her soulmate, then five years her senior, Samuel Williams. They joined in Holy Matrimony on July 1, 1961, and were happily married for nearly sixty years. Marva graduated from Clairton High School, in 1959, and expressed an interest in nursing. However, motherhood and homemaker were her early full-time occupations after joining Samuel in Holy Matrimony, in July 1961. While stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, Marva and Samuel welcomed their first born son, Jeffrey in June 1962 where they remained stationed until 1969, when Samuel received orders to relocate to Furth, West Germany. Marva and young Jeffrey returned to Clairton, Pennsylvania pending clearance to travel in May, with newborn baby Gregory, born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in late March 1969. Marva, Jeffrey, and Gregory joined Samuel in May 1969 and the family remained overseas until 1972. Marva and family returned to the States and were stationed in Fort Meade, Maryland; eventually settling into civilian life , in Catonsville, Maryland, in 1976. Marva had worked part-time as a bank teller and cashier on base, at the PX, while living in Fort Meade, and went to work for Social Security Administration, in 1976. Samuel retired and was honorably discharged from the Army, in 1978, and worked for the U.S.Post Office, retiring in 1996, while Marva became Analyst/Unit Supervisor with SSA, retiring in 2001 with 25 years of exemplary service. Marva's retirement years were well spent attending family reunions, and family retreats to Myrtle Beach, cruises along the Caribbean, excursions along the West Coast from California to Alaska, Mexico, and Hawaii with family, and hosting annual Thanksgiving dinners for family and friends. Hailing from Springfield and later Pittsburgh, Marva, sometimes to the chagrin of Samuel and Gregory, became a Baltimore Ravens fan. Marva was an active member and choir member of New Covenant United Methodist Church chairing committees participating in community outreach until her passing. She was a Lead Volunteer/Mentor in the Girl Scouts' Beyond Bars program with her close friend, Lula Sessoms, for over 25 years, and she served on the National Association of Letter Carriers [NALC] Postal Auxiliary Committee, and the Red Hatters Social Club. She loved God, family, and life more than anything in the world. Marva became the Matriarch of the Kelley-Wesson family who provided counsel to many a niece, nephew, cousin, friend, and neighbor. A pillar of support and encouragement to her church, community, and fellow human being. Marva fell asleep on Monday night February 22, 2021, being called home to God, just more than 24 hours after Samuel's soul returned to God the evening before on Sunday, February 21, 2021. She was 81 years old. That Monday, Marva spent several hours on the phone with Jeffrey, Gregory, and multitude many nieces, nephews, cousins, church members, neighbors, and well wishers. She was upbeat, comforting and cheerful as she was always. Marva and Samuel's souls are now ONE with the Almighty who would not allow them to remain apart from one another. She will be lovingly remembered and cherished by her sons, Jeffrey Lewis Williams and Gregory Samuel Williams; her daughter-in-law, Janice Olivia Hunt-Williams; one grandson, Christian Matthew Hunt; her sisters Dolores Smith, Barbara Yates, and Gloria Jean Simmons; brother Herman Thompson (Roberta), sister-in law Nadine Phipps, cousin, Helen Sharpe (Maurice), special niece Collette Hill-Taylor (Lane), Aleta Johnson (David), Gina Brown, niece Denise Williams, Shirley and Ronald Williams, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great nephews, the Payne/Jones/Sessoms and Savoy families, and an extended family of friends. Viewing hours will be Thursday, March 11th from 4:00 pm until 7:00pm at Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Services, 5151 Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore, MD. On Friday, March 12, 2021, Services for, Mrs. Williams will be held 10:30 am with her loving husband Mr. Samuel Williams at Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Services, 5151 Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore, MD.The Homegoing Celebration will be a private, family only service due to CDC guidelines that limit public gatherings. The interment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery, Gwynn Oak, MD following services. In lieu of flowers, please support the initiative, in honor of Marva and Samuel Williams, to continue their work with young people and those in need, through a charitable donation to the following: The Marva and Samuel Williams Foundation c/o Gregory S. Williams P.O. Box 2642 Ellicott City, MD 21041