Mary Jo Williams, age 91, formerly of Sulphur Springs, passed away on a winter day January 20, 2022. After several years of failing health, she died peacefully in her sleep in Destrehan, Louisiana. Bright-Holland Funeral Home has scheduled graveside services for 1 p.m. Thursday, January 27, 2022, at Laurel Land Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.
Mary Jo was born July 11, 1930, in Peerless, Texas, to Bessie Evans Arnold and her husband. She was one of five Arnold siblings known in the Peerless community as the “Friendly Five.” Mary Jo attended North Hopkins School and upon graduation moved to Dallas for work. There she met the love of her life, Hebert Lee Williams! Following courtship, they married in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 12, 1949. They had two daughters, Lark and Lasca, and lived in the Dallas area until the spring of 1966, when they moved the Oakland Community near Peerless, Texas. This move brought Mary Jo closer to the area she called “home.”
She and her family were members of the First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas. Mrs. Williams taught first grade Sunday School for nearly 40 years. She was well known for home visits to her Sunday School students and the handmade Bible covers she made for her pupils when they were given a Bible from the church. She taught many generations of Sulphur Springs children, including her daughter, Lasca, and granddaughters, April and Amber.
Mary Jo loved to garden and shop for and collect antiques. She was employed at Lee’s Jeans Manufacturing Plant in Sulphur Springs and Lee’s Hallmark Gift Shop in Sulphur Springs. She worked at Lee’s Hallmark store for many years. When her husband Herbert became ill, they moved to Sulphur Springs to be closer to work and doctors.
Mary Jo was preceded in death by her mother, Bessie Evans Arnold; her husband, Herbert Williams; a daughter, Lark Williams; and a sister, Lasca Hahn and her husband, George. She is survived by her siblings, (two brothers and one sister), Jeff D. Arnold of Clair, MI., Billy Arnold and wife Katherine of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Hellen Lock and husband Fred of Willow Point, Texas; a daughter, Lasca Anderson and husband Stanley; 5 grandchildren, April Wilkie and husband Jason of Luling, LA., Amber Wieniewitz of Knoxville, TN., Deanna McGee and husband Jeremy of Carrollton, Texas, Leslie Hamil and husband Alex of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Nathan Donnell of Sachse, Texas; 7 great-grandchildren, Madeline and Jacob Wilkie of Luling, LA., Abbie, Lexi, and Christian Wieniewitz of Knoxville, TN., and Taylor and Torey McGee of Carrollton, Texas; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Should you desire, memorial contributions in Mary Jo’s memory may be made to the Children’s Ministry of First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs, 116 Oak Avenue, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482. To leave condolences for the family, visit BrightHollandFuneralHome.com
