Mary Bell Williams

Mary B. Williams was born June 6, 1943 in Independence, Missouri to Seymour and Iona Pearley. Mary was the second child of three children that were born to this union.

As a young girl, Mary participated in the Girls Scouts of America and reached the highest level of Senior. In high school she was a member of her high school ladies choir. She graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1961.

She married Lionel Williams on April 13, 1963. From this union three children were born. Two sons, (Vincent and Lance) and a daughter (Cinnamon). Mary and Lionel had their children participating in many different sports and organizations from a young age. Mary was even an assistant coach for her sons baseball teams. She supported her children in whatever they wanted to pursue. Both sons played basketball in high school and were awarded scholarships to play in college and received bachelor’s degrees. Their daughter received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in management and leadership.

Mary began her working career performing clerical responsibilities. She began working at Montgomery Ward as a clerk in 1966 and stayed with that company until their closing in 2001. After leaving Ward, she was a contracted clerk with companies servicing government agencies with immigration and citizen services. She retired in August of 2020.

Mary gave her life to Christ and was a member of the St. Paul AME Church in Independence, Missouri. She then became a member of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Kansas City, Missouri. For the last two years of her life, she attended services at Connection Point Church in Raytown, Missouri.

Mary loved doing arts and crafts. She crocheted, sewed, made blankets, wreaths and flower arrangements for friends, family and many others. She was always determined to make something for the people she loved. She would not hesitate to do something for someone to make them feel good. She assisted the Kansas City Zoo by making maternal vests to help raise primates when the keeper staff had to hand rear them before introducing them back to their families.

Mary departed from this life on January 3, 2021 at The Kansas City Hospice House. She is preceded in death by her parents, Seymour and Iona Pearley, her parents-in-laws McGill and Erma Edwards, her sons Vincent and Lance Williams and her nephew Metzie Edwards Jr.

Left to celebrate Mary’s life are her husband Lionel Williams, Kansas City, MO; her daughter Cinnamon Williams, Raytown, MO; brother Henry Pearley (Maomi), Independence, MO; sister Doris Harrison (William), Severn, MD; brother in-law Metzie Edwards (El’Rosa), Oklahoma City, OK; sister in-law Lori Edwards, Lee’s Summit, MO; daughters-in-laws Bethany Williams, Tulsa, OK and Bridget Williams, Independence, MO; three grandchildren Caleb, Joshua, and Hannah; three step grandchildren Shameka, Lindsay and Chimori and a host of other nephews, nieces, cousins and many friends.

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