Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada for Charlie Spencer Williams, 91, who entered the heavenly kingdom on Friday, Sept. 13. Burial will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery in Grenada. Dr. Brent Barker and the Rev. Eugene Heimbach will officiate. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the church.
Spencer was born on June 1, 1933, the son of the late Presley and that late Viola Williams of Coffeeville, and the oldest of five other siblings. Spencer spent his youth in the countryside of Yalobusha County, swimming in the creek, fishing, hunting, working with cattle, logging and most definitely, farming.
If you know Spencer, you know he had many loves. Spencer’s first love was his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for more than 60 years. His time with his Sunday school class was time he looked forward to each week. Being around fellow believers was always a joy to him. And, just like a true Southern Baptist, he could always be found on his normal church pew each Sunday morning during worship service. Spencer loved God, Sunday school and worship, even when Bro. Eugene would sometimes preach a little long. But, make no mistake, Spencer would always let him know.
Spencer had an amazing love for his family. He was married to his wife, Patsy, for 64 years. While there may be no perfect marriages, theirs was as close as it comes. The life that they built together was one of love, respect and sacrifice for each other and their children. His family was always first and he made sure of that while also making sure he was instilling Christian values and work ethic into his children. His grandchildren, on the other hand, could do no wrong. They were the light of his world.
Gardening and being outdoors were other loves of Spencer’s. Even though he retired from Commercial Credit after 30 plus years of service with many honors, credits and accolades to his name, his true love was the outdoors. He was always looking for a way to get to the woods (hunting), lakes (fishing, frog gigging, duck hunting), pastures (cattle, baling hay) and most assuredly his garden. He was an amazing gardener and could grow anything anywhere. As much as he loved cultivating, planting and harvesting the things he grew, he loved even more sharing it with his friends. Showing up at friends’ houses/work with a bag of tomatoes, beans, corn and/or turnip greens would fill his heart with so much joy.
Spencer loved people and people loved Spencer, well, except maybe when he came around selling Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast tickets. Each ticket sold meant the world to him. If you know Spencer, you also know he was a storyteller like no other. He had a special knack for telling stories about things that had happened in his life. He also loved telling jokes. If he ever heard a joke, he remembered it. It’s been told that he entertained a carload of men from Grenada to Atlanta, Ga., telling stories all the way there and back, keeping them all laughing the entire trip. His stories were the best. His family sure wishes they were recorded or written down somewhere.
In addition to his parents, his wife of 64 years, Patsy Williams, and one brother-in-law, Red Coleman, preceded Spencer in death.
Survivors include, his two daughters, Cindy Ponder (Rusty) and Connie French; three sisters, Elizabeth Coleman, Margaret Clark (Fuzzy) and Christine Fielder (Billy Dean); two brothers, Francis Williams (Reta) and John Criss Williams (Barbara), and grandchildren and spouses, Rustin Bryce Ponder (Sydney), Karlee Ponder Sirko (Bobby), Kenneth Reed Ponder, Katie Spencer French Pendleton (Daniel) and Sarah Alan French Simmons (Davis).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada is in charge of arrangements.
