SHIRLEY IDA BALLARD WILLIAMS

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Shirley Ida Ballard Williams was born on Sept. 16, 1946, to the late Mathew and Addie Canty Ballard. She was the widow of Isiah "Lightening" Williams.

She departed this earthly life on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021.

Affectionately called "Ms. Shirley," she was educated in the public schools of Sumter County. She was a member of Orangehill RUME Church and later joined Grace Cathedral Ministries. Ms. Shirley was employed at Big Jim's Restaurant until her retirement, and later opened her own business, Shirley's Southern Cooking and Catering, until her untimely death. She loved cooking but her true enjoyment was to see people enjoy her food. She was a woman of God, courage, strength, wisdom, morals and grace.

She leaves to cherish her memory: three daughters, Dorothy (James) Johnson, Christine (Timothy Dancy) Williams and LaKeisha (LaTroy) Kinder, all of Sumter; one son, Charles Williams of Sumter; one adopted son, Ronnie June of Sumter; six siblings, Mathew (Vanessa) Ballard of Savannah, Georgia, William (Julia) Ballard, Jake Ballard and Abson Ballard, all of Sumter, Jeffery (Tamekia) Chavous of Virginia and Michael Chavous of Brooklyn, New York; three sisters, Annette Howard of Waynesville, Missouri, and Stephanie Chavous and Jacenda (Lamont) Chavous-Johnson of Brooklyn; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; six sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Isiah Williams; a son, Calvin Williams; one great-grandchild, Royalty McLeod; parents, Mathew and Addie Ballard; in-laws, Isiah and Helen Garrett; two sisters, Lilia Mae Bennett and Dorothy Hopkins; one brother, David Ballard; eight brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law.

The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. today for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Salem Chapel and Heritage Center, 101 S. Salem Ave., Sumter, with the Rev. Robert Garrett officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends at 272 Gamble St., Sumter.

Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.