Jonelle (Moore) Williams

On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 5:18pm in the afternoon, with her family by her side, Mrs. Jonelle M. Williams peacefully transitioned from her earthly life to be with the Lord and took her place in His Kingdom.

Jonelle was born on January 26, 1927 at 502 Milwee Avenue in Greenwood, SC. She was the only child from the union of the late Josiah and Matties Hawthorne Moore. In her birth home, she enjoyed the company of her grandmother, Mrs. Mary Clinkscales Hawthorne, and a host of other family members, all of whom have preceded her in death. She accepted Christ at an early age while attending Mt. Pisgah African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Greenwood. She learned to play the organ and served as the Director of Music for over 50 years in her home church and later at Mt Zion A.M.E. Church in Promised Land, SC.

Jonelle received her early education at Westside School in Greenwood, where her mother was a School Teacher. She later moved to Tallahassee, Florida where she completed both High School and College at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (F.A.M.U.) where her aunt worked, and older cousins attended. To continue the family tradition her cousins established, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from F.A.M.U. in 1947.  Later in 1962, she completed her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York.  She also completed some courses at Vassar College and the University of Maryland.

From segregation to integration, Jonelle served as a devoted Educator and Guidance Counselor for 38 years. She started her career in 1949 at the Ninety-Six Colored School and continued at Edgewood High School in Ninety-Six, SC until 1966. From 1966 – 1970, she moved to Brewer High School in Greenwood, and then worked as a Guidance Counselor at Northside Junior High School, in Greenwood for another 17 years, (1970 – 1987).

Jonelle was united in holy matrimony to Mr. John Henry Williams, also an Educator, on March 29, 1954, at her birth home surrounded by family and close friends. Even though they grew up one short block from each other, they were introduced to each other for the first time as adults by a mutual friend. After only 3 months of courtship, they were married. They lived in her birth home until they built their current home at 1317 Lincoln Avenue in Greenwood. They were happily married for thirty-seven years until the death of Mr. Williams in 1991. They were the proud parents of three children: Mr. Reginald Oliver “Reggie” Williams (deceased in 2004), Mrs. Deidre Parks (Roosevelt), and Mrs. Robin Green (Albert) of Orlando, FL.  Their family legacy has continued through their 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren who all affectionately called them “Da Da” and “Muddy”.  Jonelle was adored by both of her sons-in-law who called her “Miss Jo” and “Jollie”.

In addition to her church involvement, Jonelle was an active charter member in numerous organizations, including the Greenwood Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Eastern Stars, Charmlettes, Garden Club, and Bridge Club, where she and her husband would host club meetings and dinners in their home.

Jonelle deeply loved her family, many friends, and neighbors. She thoroughly enjoyed talking and laughing on the phone while sipping her favorite Pepsi Cola! Her home was often a beacon of enjoyment, laughter, “hearty” debates, and a holiday gathering spot for her family, friends, and her children’s friends as she enjoyed entertaining and cooking in her home. She was always ready to prepare impromptu dinners and late evening fish fries for those who stopped by. She will be sorely missed by all who were blessed to know her.

Bitten by the “travel bug” at an early age, Jonelle traveled extensively and had an adventurous spirit! Domestically, she traveled on family vacations, shopping trips, conventions, and visiting friends; most notably, to Poughkeepsie NY; Weathersfield CT; Detroit MI; San Francisco CA; Lufkin TX; New Orleans LA; Greensboro and Durham NC; Chicago IL; Minneapolis MN; Miccosukee FL; Augusta GA and numerous locales within SC: Due West, Orangeburg, McClellanville, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Dalzell to name a few.  Internationally, she traveled to Toronto and Niagara Falls, Canada; Beijing, China; Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa; London, United Kingdom; Venice and Rome Italy; and multiple Caribbean cruises. As a reward to herself for beating breast cancer, she learned to swim at 85 years old!!!

She spent the last 14 years of her life living in Florida with her daughter Robin and her husband Albert and their 4 children in Winter Springs, Florida and enjoyed her new Florida friends, extended Green family, and her Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church family.  She delighted in being the organist during her stay at Aiden Springs Assisted Living Facility and becoming “fast friends” with the residents and staff who would sneak her Pepsi Cola and her favorite soul food dinners and sing songs with her!

Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, October 7, 2022 at Evening Star Cemetery 111 Memorial Lane Greenwood, SC 29646, with Rev. James E. Speed, Sr. officiating. Services will be streamed live at www.percivaltompkins.com. Percival Tompkins Funeral Home is honored to serve the Williams family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jonelle (Moore) Williams, please visit our floral store.