Fleater B Smith-Williams

Fleater B. Smith Williams, 82, resident of Charleston died Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at the Bertrand Nursing Facility. She was born June 10, 1931 in Swift, Missouri to the late Grant and Julia Wilson Hursey.

She was a licensed practical nurse and was employed by various employers including the Sikeston Regional Center for over 20 years where she retired in 1987. She also worked for Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston for seven years and head nurse at Sikeston Health Care and had an In-Home Day Care.

She was a member of Grand Avenue Seven Day Adventist Church in Charleston where she held many offices including Church Mother and the Chairperson of many special programs over the many years.

She was united in marriage to Willie Smith and later Roosevelt Williams. Both preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by one son, Jimmy Quinn and two daughters, Wilma Johnson and Rosemary Renn-Jones.

She was involved in several community events but is widely known for helping to raise over 150 children.

She is survived by seven sons, Barry (Teresa) Williams, Jimmy Williams, Larry Williams and Wesley Williams of Charleston, Anthony (Patricia) Hursey of Montclair, New Jersey, Lamar Neal of St. Louis and a nephew whom she raised, Richard (Elise) Hursey of Eugene, Oregon, seven daughters, Rosa (Henry) Davis, Angela Quinn-Gater, Lanell Williams, Tyshay Williams and Myriah Williams of Charleston, Aisha Hursey (Earl) Young of Parma and Margaret (Melvin) Mhoon of Sikeston, five stepsons, Curtis (Vicky) Williams and Willie Earl (Fannie) Williams of St. Louis, Albert “Guy” (Alice) Williams of Bellville, Illinois, and John (Rose) Williams of Indio, CA, one brother, Henry Hursey of Lansing, MI, two sisters, Leedora Hursey of Wardell and Julia Williams of Lansing, MI, and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Friends may Friday, January 31, 2014 from 3:00 P. M. until 7:00 P. M. at the Williams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 12:00 noon at the Bowden Civic Center in Charleston with Pastor Roosevelt Williams officiating.

Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery.