Anna Williams

Anna Bess Williams, age 33, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Mission Hospitals – Memorial Campus in Asheville, North Carolina due to complications after the birth of her daughter. A native of Haywood County, she was the daughter of Joe and Gail Williams. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Robert and Emily Williams of Clyde; and her maternal grandfather, Alan Dane Roberson, Sr. of Louisiana. Anna attended Pisgah High School during her freshman and sophomore years, then was invited to attend the North Carolina School of Science and Math, Durham, North Carolina. Anna received the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship to attend North Carolina State University where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Education, with honors while overcoming Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After receiving her degree she became a North Carolina Principal's Fellow and attended North Carolina State University to earn her Master's Degree in School Administration, with honors. Anna taught high school mathematics and served as an Assistant Principal in Wake County, North Carolina. After moving back to Haywood County, Anna served as an Assistant Principal at Jonathan Valley, Clyde Elementary, and Waynesville Middle School before serving as the Principal at Meadowbrook Elementary. Anna was loved by everyone who knew her. She was deeply devoted to her career as an educator and Principal at Meadowbrook Elementary where all her students and faculty admired her leadership. Anna cherished her role as mother, wife, daughter, and sister and always placed her family as her number one priority. She enjoyed planning trips and traveling with her family. Anna loved entertaining especially during the holiday season. You would always find her home festively decorated. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she made it special for everyone. Anna was a dedicated member of Clyde Central United Methodist Church where her Christian faith was an integral part of her life. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband of eight years, Brian Smith; a son, John Marshall Smith, age 5; a daughter, Emily Claire Smith, one week old; a sister, Melanie Williams Rodriguez and her husband, Ali Rodriguez of Ellicott City, Maryland; a nephew, Dezi Robert Rodriguez; maternal grandmother, Rowena Roberson of Farmerville, Louisiana; mother and father-in-law, Donald and Annette Smith of Arnold, Maryland; and several other extended family in the states of Louisiana and Arizona. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at Charles Beall Auditorium at Haywood Community College with the Reverend Dan Gaddy, Reverend L. Alan Mears, and Reverend Chris Westmoreland officiating. Burial will follow at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Old Clyde Road. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturday at Wells Funeral Home of Canton. As a sign of Anna's faith, joy and love, please bring a flower to place on the flower cross that will be present at the funeral home the evening of visitation and then displayed at her celebration of life service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Anna Bess Williams Memorial Fund at any First Citizens Bank location. Please note on the memo line: In memory of Anna Bess Williams.

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