ERMA GANELLE DEESE WILLIAMS died suddenly with her husband and son beside her in their home by the Blakeley River at Spanish Fort, Alabama on May 8, 2009 . A resident of this area for over 60 years, she was a native of Bonifay (Holmes County) Florida, born on November 29, 1917. As the owner and manager of Baldwin Accounting and Tax Service for over 30 years, she was well-known in the business community on the Eastern Shore and in the Mobile area. Known as a devout Christian, Erma was baptized at the age of 12, and became a charter member of the Little Rock Assembly of God Church in Bonifay. Her sunshine personality, genuine smile and frequent laughter has caused her to be loved by many coast to coast, and especially throughout this community. Her genteel southern hospitality, her warm and caring concern, and countless, thoughtful deeds done for others throughout the years; along with the thousands of hot meals served and beds made ready to welcome any and all sojourners to her door, will surely continue to endear her to the hearts and minds of all who knew her. Her long, happy, caring and loving marriage becomes a role model for others who wish to follow in achieving the good life. And little wonder that, though it has always been private, there is found on the fly-leaf of both her's and her husband's bible and signed by each of them, these special words: "I want to live, I want to see, I want to know, I want to share, I want to be a Christian!" Erma was preceded in death by her son, Roy Lamar WILLIAMS, and is survived by her husband of 74 years, D. V. Williams; one son, Jimmy Vander WILLIAMS, one daughter, Marcia (Ronald) Foster, four grandchildren; Rebecca (Allen) Nelson, Ashley (Mark) Turbeville, Michael (Kathy) Foster, Susan Foster; and three great-grandchildren, Shannon Nelson, Staci Nelson, and Hayley Foster. Visitation will be at Pinecrest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, Alabama on Monday, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Funeral Services will be conducted from the Chapel of Pinecrest Funeral Home on Tuesday at 2:00 P.M. Internment will be at Pinecrest Cemetery on Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, Alabama. An online guestbook may be signed at www.pinecrestfuneralhome. com. Arrangements by Pine Crest Funerals and Cremations, 1939 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, AL 251-478-5227.

(Reprinted from the Mobile Register--Online)