Joyce Williams

Texas Joyce S. Williams, 87, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in San Antonio. She was born in Chattanooga, to parents Clarence and Bessie Smith. As a counselor, teacher and author, Joyce spent a lifetime helping others cope with grief. She earned an associates degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; a bachelors degree from Trinity University in San Antonio and Montessori training at the University of Oklahoma. In 1974, while a teacher at the Montessori School St. Marys Hall in San Antonio, Texas, the parent of a student died in an auto accident. Recognizing the need for grief counseling, she earned multiple certifications and became involved with training parents and educators to help children cope with death. Joyce conducted seminars at conferences sponsored by the Houston National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Episcopal Schools conferences and Our Lady of the Lake University conferences. After the U.S. Challenger space shuttle tragedy in 1986, Joyce was invited by a Houston Montessori School to speak to parents whose children were classmates of the children of one of the astronauts. Between 1985 and 1995, she lost five family members, three of them to AIDS, motivating her to write her book, Triumph Over Grief. This led Joyce to focus her consulting, speaking, and writing on grief issues resulting from the effects of AIDS on children and families. She was a member of the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators. Her childrens books include "Fred Needs Friends", "Gus Is Grouchy", "Sam Is Mad" and "Sue Is New". Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Luke E. Williams Jr.; her daughter, Lydia Williams Allen; and grandsons, Matthew Benjamin Allen and Bryan Caleb Allen. She is survived by her daughter, Virginia Williams Moore and husband, Wayne "Skip" Moore; her son, David Williams; granddaughters, Klair Johnston, Susan Johnston Oettle and husband, Phillip, Morgan Johnston and Barrett Johnston; grandson, Brandon Williams; great-grandson, Judah Luke Oettle. Service was at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Woodland Baptist Church, 15315 Huebner Road, Rev. Judson B. Edwards and Rev. Garrett Vickrey officiated. Interment followed in Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Woodland Baptist Church, 15315 Huebner Road, San Antonio, Texas. You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com. Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232, 210-495-8221.