The staff at rolling out wishes to offer condolences to our 25 Most Influential Women of Atlanta 2013 honoree Valerie Taylor-Perry, Lead Strategist/Owner & CEO at Taylormade Marketing, LLC whose mother, Geneva Williams, passed away on Friday, August 22, 2014.
Wiliams was a resident in Atlanta suburb, Snellville, Georgia, where she enjoyed a full life, attending college at age 40. She excelled as an honors’ scholar, and went on to receive her bachelor’s, master’s and associate doctorate degrees, from Michigan State University. She was a true SPARTAN, from tutoring and mentoring members of the football team, and going to games, while attending MSU, to later years watching the games on TV while talking long distance with friends and fellow Spartan fans on the phone. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, she attended Howard High School, and cared for, and educated, many local youth as the Director of a community kindergarten for many years.
Williams, continued to educate youth, young adults and adults from 1985-1995, as an associate professor, college advisor. She was a retired English Professor at Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Michigan. She was a committed member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and The Golden Key Honor Society.
Known affectionately as Ma, Moms, BAMA, Aba, Aunt Geneva, Aunt Gee, Ms. Gee and Mama Gee, she was greatly respected, admired, and left a meaningful impact on those that came in contact with her. She was a change-agent, a woman with morals, who lived by her convictions; she was a PHENOMENAL WOMAN.
A lifelong educator, Williams believed in and understood the pathway to any level of success and personal fulfillment begins and ends with education. To that end, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Geneva Williams GreenPen Scholarship Fund at Spelman College and mailed to 8741 Lake Drive Snellville, Georgia 30039. An annual scholarship will be provided to traditionally underserved African American college students and single-moms desiring to attend or return to college, and majors in English Literature. Your donation will be tax deductible, and greatly appreciated by the family.
Williams is survived by her “one and only” daughter, Valerie Taylor-Perry, whom she dedicated her life to raising and was extremely proud of her accomplishments and successes; her loyal son-in-law, C. Bernard Perry, whom she cared for deeply; and her only grandchild, London George Taylor-Perry, whom was “her joy, and the love of her life”, and his loving “BAMA”, all of whom reside in Snellville, Georgia. She also leaves behind her only sister, Edith (Williams) Bledsoe, whom she shared many loving memories with; and brother in-law, Pastor Sims Bledsoe, and several very special nieces and a nephew, she loved and enjoyed participating in their growing childhood years: Sharon (Burney) Knox (deceased), Pamela (Burney) Higginbotham, Angela (Burney) Cuff, and Joshua Burney II, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
She has a host of other loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephew, cousins, and friends in Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Georgia and Michigan. She was preceded in passing on to God, by her farther Alfred Deamer Williams, her mother Rosa Lee Williams, her three brothers, James Williams, George Williams, and AD Williams. She also shared a special caring and bond with the associates of Taylormade Marketing, LLC, (Andrea, Erika, Ronda, and Janine), her daughters marketing firm, where she provided professional writing and editing services. She believed in their work and commitment to the company, and she provided mentoring and counsel as the senior staff member. She also will be missed by her loving and dedicated family friend and neighbor, Dee Stanton. She loved to live life with vigor and enjoyment and she believed that it was never to late to pursue your dream.
Geneva Williams “My Mom” you will forever remain the “Wind Beneath My Wings!”. A private family viewing was held this past Sunday, prior to a private cremation service. A Celebration of Life Open House will be held for family and friends on Saturday, September 6, in Snellville, GA. The family thanks everyone for their many, many, well-wishes, prayers, and acts of kindness and support. Arrangements were handled by Tim Stewart Funeral Home 2246 Wisteria Drive, Snellville, Georgia 30078. Call (770) 979-5010.
