My Family- The Willams’

My parents were married 63 years. In the throws of family life we experienced joy, sorrow, chaos, love, humor and death. Ours is a rich tapestry of experiences and memories that are wound together and intertwined into what makes us who we are.

The odds were against both my parents from the beginning. They were born into abject poverty, suffering abuse, and neglect. My father became a ward of the state at age 6 and my mother age 15. However, had they not been born into these situations they might not have ever met and fell in love.

My father James Polk Williams, Jr. was born in Loudon, TN., July 30, 1934 and died September 11, 2015. My mother was born in Faulkner, Mississippi on February 1, 1934 and died July 12, 2017. Both of them ended up at Tennessee Industrial School (later Tennessee Preparatory School). This was a permanent living situation for them and their teachers and friends became their family. My mother had siblings at the school - Aunt Christine (Bills) and Charles Williams. Charles did not stay very long. After they married, my father signed up for the USAF where he spent an entire career.

My sister, Debbie was born in South Carolina 1956. I was born at Hahn AFB, Germany in 1959, and my brother Jim III was born at Baptist Hospital in Nashville,TN. in 1963. Debbie and I attended Cole Elementary in Nashville until my dad was sent to SHAPE, Belgium. We spent a good amount of time there. It was an amazing experience. When we returned to the States, we spent one year in Denver, Co. and then my father retired and we returned to Nashville.

My parents gave us an amazing and interesting life. They had fun, partied a little too much, but there was always so much love. My father was very demonstrative in his love for us. He was a very sensitive and kind man with a few demons. Regardless, he will always be my Superman! My mother was a little more distant, but I never doubted her love. Especially if someone ever messed with one of us.

They were two people just trying to make things work, when they had never been given any good examples of a solid family life. Kudos to both of them for achieving what they did. After retirement, my father eventually became a Bank Officer. He was so well loved by everyone. My mom was a stay at home mom until we moved back to Nashville. She worked in accounting.

There are so many stories, some sad, some funny, but always interesting and always on engraved on my heart. As I continue with this blog, I will likely share many of those stories!

Be blessed,

Diane