Vinita Jean Williams

Vinita Williams, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, November 17, 2007 at the age of 73. The family will receive friends today, Tuesday November 20, from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. Rev. Stan Allcorn and Dr. Jeff Reid will officiate. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Vinita was born February 16, 1934 in Abilene, Texas to Orel Adrain Rhodes and Annie Beatrice (Story) Rhodes. She grew up in Abilene and graduated from Abilene High School in 1952. After graduating from high school, Vinita attended Hardin-Simmons University, where she graduated with a BBA degree in 1956. August 5, 1955, Vinita married Kerry Wayne Williams in Abilene. She worked at the Abilene Regional Airport for 19 years as a secretary. Vinita has been a very active member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church since 1965. She was the Children's Sunday School Director for 30 years, sang in the Church Choir for 25 years, and sang in the Early Bird Choir since it began. She also taught kindergarten for 15 years at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. Vinita was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Kerry W. Williams, of Abilene; one son, Richard Williams and his wife Sandy, of Abilene; two daughters, Karen Johnson, also of Abilene, and Sherry Nixon and her husband Tracy, of Hobbs, New Mexico; two brothers, Arvid Rhodes and his wife Heather, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Carroll Rhodes of Tahoka, Texas. Vinita is also survived by six grandchildren; Shane Johnson, of Corpus Christi, Texas, Nicole Eaves and her husband Jason, of Lubbock, Texas, Justin and Lea Ann Nixon, of Hobbs, New Mexico, and Jason and Ashley Williams, of Abilene; along with three nieces and three nephews. Bob Johnson, Hal McCullough, John Holton, Edwin Broesche, Bruce Morris, Wes Ratliff, Don Harless, and Bill Goldman will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Church Builders, Nehemiah, and Prime Timers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of Vinita Williams to the Big Country Baptist Assembly, P.O. Box 248, Leuders, Texas 79533.