Obituary for Vanell Williams
With the help of Hospice, Vanell passed peacefully in her sleep at her daughter, Esther Wallace's house, with her family at her side. She was 94 years old.
Vanell Sampson grew up in Georgia, and in 1945 she married Ezra Williams, and a year later in 1946 they welcomed their first child Moses. Then, in 1948 they moved to California to start their new life together.
Seven years and five children later they moved to Michigan. During their time in California Vanell and Ezra had started taking bible study correspondence courses, sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist Church; and after settling in Milan, Michigan they joined the Adventist Church there and became lifelong members.
In 1976 Vanell's husband Ezra passed away and she took on the burden of raising nine children as a single parent. Even though times were hard, her children were always her priority. She would work two, sometimes three, jobs to make sure her children were cared for.
Throughout her life she never lost her faith, and she made sure all of her children were in church every Sabbath.
When Vanell's youngest child was in middle school she started taking classes at the local College, which led to a degree in Early Childhood Development. After graduation, she worked for the Head Start program in Ann Arbor, Michigan and continued to be active in the Churches' youth program.
In 2011, Vanell moved to Springfield, Missouri where she joined the local Seventh Day Adventist Church, where she was active with their youth programs until she retired.
In her nearly 95 years of life, Vanell undoubtedly experienced many joyous times, but she also experienced much heartache. She was preceded in death by her husband and seven children. Ezra Williams dies in 1976; her second child Ezra II passed away in 1971; her eldest daughter Linda dies in the year 2000; her fifth child Michael passed in 2011; and her seventh child Vernon, in 2018. She is also preceded in death by one grandchild, one great-grandchild, and one great-great-grandchild.
Vanell is survived by children: Moses, Randy, Esther, Loraine, and Charles; 50 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Her favorite songs were: The Old Rugged Cross, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
Through the many surviving relatives, friends, and loved ones, the legacy and memory of Vanell (Sampson) Williams continues to live on.
Funeral Services for Vanell were held at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 5, 2020 at Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home. A Visitation was held from noon until service time on Friday, June 5, 2020. Burial followed at Maple Park Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
Vanell Sampson grew up in Georgia, and in 1945 she married Ezra Williams, and a year later in 1946 they welcomed their first child Moses. Then, in 1948 they moved to California to start their new life together.
Seven years and five children later they moved to Michigan. During their time in California Vanell and Ezra had started taking bible study correspondence courses, sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist Church; and after settling in Milan, Michigan they joined the Adventist Church there and became lifelong members.
In 1976 Vanell's husband Ezra passed away and she took on the burden of raising nine children as a single parent. Even though times were hard, her children were always her priority. She would work two, sometimes three, jobs to make sure her children were cared for.
Throughout her life she never lost her faith, and she made sure all of her children were in church every Sabbath.
When Vanell's youngest child was in middle school she started taking classes at the local College, which led to a degree in Early Childhood Development. After graduation, she worked for the Head Start program in Ann Arbor, Michigan and continued to be active in the Churches' youth program.
In 2011, Vanell moved to Springfield, Missouri where she joined the local Seventh Day Adventist Church, where she was active with their youth programs until she retired.
In her nearly 95 years of life, Vanell undoubtedly experienced many joyous times, but she also experienced much heartache. She was preceded in death by her husband and seven children. Ezra Williams dies in 1976; her second child Ezra II passed away in 1971; her eldest daughter Linda dies in the year 2000; her fifth child Michael passed in 2011; and her seventh child Vernon, in 2018. She is also preceded in death by one grandchild, one great-grandchild, and one great-great-grandchild.
Vanell is survived by children: Moses, Randy, Esther, Loraine, and Charles; 50 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Her favorite songs were: The Old Rugged Cross, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
Through the many surviving relatives, friends, and loved ones, the legacy and memory of Vanell (Sampson) Williams continues to live on.
Funeral Services for Vanell were held at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 5, 2020 at Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home. A Visitation was held from noon until service time on Friday, June 5, 2020. Burial followed at Maple Park Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.