Obituary of Martha Gladys Williams

Martha Gladys Williams passed away on April 22, 2016. Martha was born on August 11, 1927 in Talladega and lived there her entire life. She was one of three children born to the late Samuel T. and Rena Mae Williams. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Samuel T. Williams, Jr. and Joseph Jackson Williams, nieces Martha Helen Williams, Joyce Rivers, nephew Ray Williams, and great nephew Samuel T. Williams, IV, who lived in her home for many years. Martha attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for two years and graduated from UAB with a degree in Elementary Education. She also earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education and an AA Degree in School Administration. She completed 52 hours for Certification in Deaf Education at the University of Alabama. She taught at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf for 28 years, 12 of which she served as a Supervising Teacher. Her last 8 years were spent as an Educational Evaluator for prospective students from throughout the state. Martha’s mother worked for the Settlement Club beginning in the 1930’s and when she died in 1980, Martha and Marvin Hubbard volunteered to help handle the day-to-day business for the Settlement Club, which, since 1905, has helped the needy with medicine, food, and clothes. After retirement in 1989, she continued to stay busy with the Settlement Club. She also volunteered with the Lakeside Hospice in Pell City for several years. In 2003, the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce presented her the Volunteer of the Year Award. She was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church where she taught in the Primary Department at one time and later served as the Church Historian for a number of years. She was a member of the Junior Welfare League and the Inter Se Study Club in Talladega. She is survived by nephews and nieces Blake Williams (Hope), Patty Hill (Terry), Samuel T. Williams II, Alice Waugh, Janice Williams, and Andrea (Richard) Herbster, Terry (Tashia) Hill, Kim (Steve) Smith, Kerry Williams, Jessica (Wes) Hudson. A memorial service will be held 11:00 am, Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Talladega. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the First United Methodist Church Youth Program or your favorite charity.