The Obituary
Ollie Mae Williams, affectionately known as “Doot and Mae,” joined our loving Savior at 11:54 PM, Saturday, September 8, 2018, in Brooklyn, New York. She was born October 23, 1932, in Cherry Grove, Allendale County, South Carolina, to Thomas Bryant and Della McKay-Bryant.
Ollie graduated from Estill Training School in 1955 and attended Community Bible Institute, in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she obtained higher education and became a Missionary. She started a small business making hats, clothes, and other apparel with her sisters – a crafting passion they learned from their mother, who made shoes.
She is preceded in death by her mother, father, and sisters: Katie Bryant-Holloway, Rosa Lee Bryant, and Mageline “Freelove” Meyers, her brother-in-law Benny Meyers, her brother Edward Bryant, and her beloved son Teddy “Scooter” Williams.
On June 12, 1955, Ollie married Army Veteran, Johnny Lee Williams, who survives her. Also surviving are her children: Gina L. Adams of San Antonio, T.X., Randy V. Williams of Bronx, N.Y., Valenesia S. (Napoleon) James of Springfield, M.A., Shenette V. Williams of Brooklyn, N.Y., Joan Williams of Brooklyn, N.Y., Jantha S. (Athena) Williams of Saint Albans, N.Y. and Linda Owusu of Accra, Ghana; Grandchildren: Ray (Tylisha) Griffin of Brooklyn, N.Y., Rasheen Griffin of Brooklyn, N.Y., Joquanna (Joseph) Wengerd of Hempstead, N.Y., Tamika (Corey Blanchette) Milner of Palmer, M.A., Tiffany (Erica) Williams of Springfield, M.A., Victoria Williams, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Tynesha James of Springfield, M.A., Lamar (Kathy) James of Springfield, M.A., Quenasha Williams of New York, N.Y., Christian Pine of San Antonio, Jantha Williams, Jr. of Far Rockaway, N.Y., Elijah Bazemore of Springfield, M.A., Shauna James of Springfield, M.A., Arianna James of Springfield, M.A., Jason Williams of Saint Albans, N.Y., Rayanna Williams of Brooklyn, N.Y., Honorary grandchildren: Kwame Owusu of Accra, Ghana, Coretta A. Owusu of Accra, Ghana, Tabbatha McCall of Brooklyn, N.Y., Richard Desjardins of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Jaquam Morris of Springfield, M.A.; Fourteen great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson; Her oldest surviving relative, “Auntie” Mary Goodman of Brooklyn, N.Y., whom she loved dearly; Her siblings: Leroy (Birdell) Bryant of Brooklyn, Peola Bryant of Brooklyn, N.Y., Geneva “Gracie” (John) White, of Linden, N.C., Ralph Bryant of Queens, N.Y., Tony Bryant of Atlanta, G.A., David (Tamika) Bryant of Fayetteville, N.C., Theresa Bryant of Atlanta, G.A., Alberta (Greg) Bryant-Sneed of Queens, N.Y., and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She loved fashion and making sure everyone was okay. Ollie always had a smile on her face and a dance in her feet. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wasn’t afraid to let anyone know! Ollie spent most of her spare time with her family and friends and coached a softball team. She enjoyed life and had “a pride about herself” that made her beam and stand apart.
Her favorite scripture was the Lord’s Prayer, which she taught her children and grandchildren to recite each morning before they left for school. Ollie was truly a gem and a force to be reckoned with. She was greatly loved and will be sorely missed by her family and friends.
