Extracted from The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Thursday, December 1, 2005

Retha Emmons Williamson

Retha Emmons Williamson, 85, died Tuesday, November 29, 2005, of respiratory failure, at Miss. Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Jackson and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday at Westview Baptist Church in Jackson. Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church with graveside services 1 p.m. Friday in Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in Lake.

Mrs. Williamson was a native of Scott County, Miss. and grew up in the Good Hope community near the town of Lake. She graduated from Good Hope High School in 1939, and immediately following her graduation she and fellow graduate Lonzo Williamson climbed out a window at the school and eloped, beginning a marital union that would last more than 60 years and would produce six children. In 1949, the family moved to Jackson, and for many years they resided in the Woodville Heights community in South Jackson. For more than a decade Retha worked as a sales associate at J. C. Penney Company. Her beloved husband died in 1999, and in 2004 she became a resident of the Riggs Manor Retirement Community in Raymond.

Retha was an extraordinary wife and mother. She was totally unselfish, always putting the needs of others ahead of her own. On the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, her husband noted that she was the “living example” of the woman described in the Holy Bible at Proverbs 31:10-30:

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. ... She also rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household. ... She extends her hand to the poor, yes she reaches out to the needy. ... Strength and honor are her clothing. ... She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” ... Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

In addition to being a loving and compassionate mother to her own children, Retha served for a number of years as a foster mother to numerous children in the custody of the State of Miss., many of whom had previously been neglected or abused, She showed the same love and compassion to the foster children as that shown to her biological children. Without a doubt, she made a huge difference in the lives of these children.

Retha loved the Lord, and she was always active in her local church, which over the years included Elraine Baptist Church, Daniel Memorial Baptist Church, Woodville Heights Baptist Church, and Westview Baptist Church. She was exceedingly generous with her time and talents, and she was loved by many people. She was famous among her friends and relatives for her fabulous Southern cooking, especially her fried chicken, biscuits, perfectly-seasoned turnip greens, and her signature confection, caramel popcorn.

Retha was preceded in death by: her husband Lonzo; three of her children - Glenda Williamson, Charles Williamson, and Creston Williamson; and two brothers - Oliver Birden Emmons and William Clark Emmons. Survivors include her dear friend Murry Barry of Raymond; brother Herbert Coyt Emmons of Lake; sister Evelyn Waltman of Lake; son Sollie Williamson of St. Martinville, La., and his wife Monika, son David Williamson of Jackson and his wife Carolyn; daughter Joan Myers of Terry; grandchildren Bennett Myers of Terry, Michael Myers of Jackson, Jim Williamson of Lafayette, La., John Harmon of Gainesville, Fla., Teresa Theriot of Lafayette, La., and Nathan Williamson of St. Martinville, La,; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom Retha loved dearly. Special thanks from Retha's children go to Dr. Luther H. Fulcher, Jr. and Dr. William D. Frazier, her longtime physicians; to Nurse, Sherrell Ivy; to Dr. Carl Savell, her pastor for many years; and to all the staff at Riggs Manor. Mother deeply loved each of you.