Linda Gail Williams

Linda Williams was born August 1, 1949, to Clayburn and Jessie Reed in El Dorado, Arkansas.  She departed this life on Friday, October 9, 2020, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

She confessed a belief in Christ at an early age and united with St. James Baptist Church in El Dorado, Arkansas.  While living in Little Rock, she joined St. John Missionary Baptist Church, and after returning to El Dorado, she united with Douglas Chapel Baptist Church.

Linda fell deeply in love and married her soul-mate Pete Williams on April 17, 1971. To this union was born three children: Barry Jerome, Laquita Gail, and Veronica Lynn.

Linda was a proud member of the class of 1967 at Washington High School in El Dorado, Arkansas. She also attended college at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff studying agriculture. Linda worked as a Farm Loan Specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture. She was the first woman in the nation to hold this position.

Linda also was a strong believer in public service, and as such worked tirelessly as a member of the South Arkansas African American Historical Society and as curator of the Nile and Marzel Smith Museum of African American History. She also volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents Clayburn Reed and Jessie Mae Reed-Thigpen, and her step-father Tommie Thigpen, her daughter Laquita Gail, and her son Barry Jerome.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband, Pete Williams, her daughters Veronica Williams and Sylvia Wynn; her brothers Jimmy Reed, Sr. (Joanne), Mark Reed, Sr. (Maxine), and Sampson Williams (Brenda); her sisters Myrtis Rodgers, Jacqueline Rhodes, Pamela Christian, and Sylvia Ellis; her grandchildren Nadia, Adrian, Alicia, and Andrew; and her great-grandchildren Ryan, Jayron, Victoria, Sylvia, Zelda, and Jermani.