Send Flowers We celebrate the life of Ava Lee (Kemp) Williams , born October 12, 1930 in Walnut Lake, Arkansas. She was the third of four girls born to Reverend Alvie Lee Kemp and Julia Bell (Crawford) Kemp. Although her early years were spent in Ruston and Clay, Louisiana, most of her formative years were spent in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ava accepted Christ at an early age at the New Prosperity Baptist Church. She along with her sisters attended and graduated from Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church. Ava went to business school, where she gained skills in typing allowing her to secure employment with Civil Rights Leader, Daisy Bates. Although the experience of working for such a pioneer was quite impactful on her as a young woman and later on in her accomplishments in life, Ava met someone who would change her life in ways unimaginable.   This turning point in Ava’s life came after meeting Robert Lee Williams. After courtship, they married December 12, 1948. Out of this union, they were blessed with eight children. Wherever or whatever he did, Ava supported him while providing a home environment for Robert and the children where everyone always felt loved. She was the foundation of this lasting and unified family. While her husband was continuing his education completing his doctoral degree, Ava was at home nurturing their eight children. Mother, as her children fondly called her, knew how to respond to the needs of her family. She truly would rise and shine with the Glory of the Lord daily preparing her children for school, husband for work and school and home schooling (as it is known today) the children and sometimes grandchildren that remained at home. Ava was a model for any young woman who asked the question, ‘what’s your secret for staying married?’ Since the beginning of this union, Ava was committed to taking care of her family, which was inclusive of encouraging and supporting her husband in pursuing his education. Her secretarial training enabled her to be his typist. One could hear her typing, all hours of the night the papers, assisting in the preparation of papers for classes and the various degree; not knowing the stage for Ava furthering her educational studies was being set. After the eighth child was in elementary school, Ava began another mark in the legacy that she would leave. Ava was born during a time when education was not available for everyone. Her educational goals were delayed, but not denied. She attended Harris-Stowe State University (formerly Harris-Stowe College), completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education 1981. She later pursued her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Minority Mental Health from Washington University in Saint Louis 1982. While working her degrees, her children were completing high school, college, securing employment, and raising their families. In the midst of Ava maintaining a loving home for her husband and children, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 1980.  She is a Diamond Life Member and Delta Dear. Her career began with a pioneer in African American history and continued as such. She and Robert began businesses which she played a major role in them. These businesses expanded over a 30 year period. One such business was the Educational and Psychological Development Center, EPDC. Her commitment to the development of children extended beyond her own. She along with her husband, family and other educators provided intensive psycho and educational services to children in both the Saint Louis City and County area through EPDC. Although EPDC, allowed Ava to continue what was natural to her, nurturing, she was a pioneer in this area of services. Ava, a mother who dearly loved her biological family and those who she came to know. Because of her love for others, she meant for you to eat and ‘chicken’ was her favorite. She would make certain that if you were around her and it was time to eat, that was what you were going to eat. Ava loved to eat to nourish the body, but Ava loved to nourish the spirit. Her love for her church, Bible Way Baptist Church was immeasurable. Bible Way became the ‘way’ that connected back with where God had purposeth in her life, serving God’s people. Ava was a part of the Bible Way Baptist Church Women’s Missionary Union, MWU; actively involved in Vacation Bible School and Bible Study. Although Mother Ava, early years were in the church, she never felt that learning was terminal, and was committed to continuing in the Word of God. She was always excited about being in bible study at Bible Way Baptist Church. Some referred to her as Ms. Ava, Mrs. Williams, Ava, mother, grandma, Aunt Wee, but God called her His own. Her commitment to the Lord at an early age was best shown in her praising God through song and playing the piano, (self taught). Ava along with her sisters were always singing and praising God. And mother was a ‘promoter’. Wherever family and friends came together, she would make certain that you displayed your talents, singing, playing the piano, guitar, whatever the gift. She truly believed in the, “Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord!”. Ava was a giver; of her time, her money, her wisdom and most of all, of her love. She loved life and those who she poured her love into to include her father & mother, Reverend Alive & Julia B. Kemp, three sisters, Ernestine Ganaway, Lurene Davis, Sadie Henson, and daughter, Robbie Williams Ashe all who preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish in memory her love for them, her loving and devoted husband of 69 ½ years, Dr. Robert L. Williams; seven beautiful and loving children, Julius A. Williams (Maritza); Y’vonne D, Williams Johnson (Robert); Larry Williams (Linder); Reva A. Williams Pratt (Tim); Dorothy Williams Poole (Guy); Robert A. Williams (Carol); Michael A. Williams; nineteen beautiful grandchildren; nineteen beautiful great-grandchildren; and two beautiful great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews and relatives that knew and loved her dearly as ‘Aunt Wee’; and friends whose lives she touched and impacted their lives, and we say to God Be the Glory! ‘Always, smiling, always nurturing, always loving….always will be Remembered’