Obituary for Zemma W. Brown (Williams)
Ms. Zemma Williams Brown, a native of Mobile, Alabama born October 31, 1940 departed this life on Friday January 13, 2023. She was a graduate of Josephine Allen Institute and Alabama State University.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Caleb Williams, Sr. and Mrs. Myrtle Alexander Williams, and the love and light of her life, Paul Dean Trenier. She leaves to cherish her memory two loving daughters, Sa-Vaughnie (Dersi) Johnson, Birmingham, AL., Sherry (Henry) Roberts Mobile, AL.; two sisters, Adell (Charles) Sellars and Donna Williams, both of Mobile, AL.; Two brothers, Caleb (Gradine) Williams Jr. of Enterprise, AL. and Gary (Joyce) Williams of Mobile, AL.; Six grandchildren, Paige Morgan (Dario) Johnson-Harris, Jeremy Christopher (Jasmine) Roberts, Henry Williams Roberts III, Allison Mariah Johnson, Ashton Marie Johnson and William Joseph Roberts. Two great granddaughters, Zoe Grace Roberts, and Jaycee Smith, three Goddaughters, Tiffany (Courtney) Duncan, Dyrian Hope Abrams, and Racheal Battles, a Godson, Kevin Leflore, her last living aunt, Bessie Alexander and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Abraham Lincoln said, “All I am and all I hope to be, I owe to my mother.” My sister and I can say the same about our mom, Zemma Brown. She embodied humility, compassion, kindness, and love and she will be dearly missed. Zemma’s unwavering faith in her Heavenly Father, is the foundation upon which she built her life. She was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, where she was an active congregant, serving as both a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Teacher. She loved learning and teaching and spent over 40 years feeding the hearts and minds of every child she came into contact with, not only teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also teaching them the value of community and caring for one another. This was accomplished first at Mobile Community Action Head Start and then with the Mobile County School System (Kate Shepherd Elementary). She lived a servant’s life and modeled a servant’s heart volunteering after retirement with the Foster Grandparents Program, at Word of Life Learning Institute. Zemma’s caring spirit and generous heart could be felt by anyone she came in contact with. She had a special gift of not only seeing the good in people but bringing out the best in them as well. She loved on people with hugs, kisses and smiles, but if you solicited her advice you had to be prepared to hear it straight, no ice, no chaser. She loved to cook for, entertain, celebrate, and support others. She beat to her own drum and cherished the many other fabulous drums that she surrounded herself with (Rose Marie French, Jewel Jones, and Rose Marie Washington; (all deceased), Alberta Martin, Myrtle Gayles, Daisy Branch, Sandra Nobles, Mary Allen, and Georgia Kennedy, just to name a few. She chose simple over flashy and was deeply sentimental. She was an example to many and a shining light to all who knew her. So, when you think of Zemma, celebrate the good memories you have of her. Remember that life is fragile and short and should be lived to the fullest. She will be missed more than any words could express but she will be forever in our hearts till we meet again.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Caleb Williams, Sr. and Mrs. Myrtle Alexander Williams, and the love and light of her life, Paul Dean Trenier. She leaves to cherish her memory two loving daughters, Sa-Vaughnie (Dersi) Johnson, Birmingham, AL., Sherry (Henry) Roberts Mobile, AL.; two sisters, Adell (Charles) Sellars and Donna Williams, both of Mobile, AL.; Two brothers, Caleb (Gradine) Williams Jr. of Enterprise, AL. and Gary (Joyce) Williams of Mobile, AL.; Six grandchildren, Paige Morgan (Dario) Johnson-Harris, Jeremy Christopher (Jasmine) Roberts, Henry Williams Roberts III, Allison Mariah Johnson, Ashton Marie Johnson and William Joseph Roberts. Two great granddaughters, Zoe Grace Roberts, and Jaycee Smith, three Goddaughters, Tiffany (Courtney) Duncan, Dyrian Hope Abrams, and Racheal Battles, a Godson, Kevin Leflore, her last living aunt, Bessie Alexander and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Abraham Lincoln said, “All I am and all I hope to be, I owe to my mother.” My sister and I can say the same about our mom, Zemma Brown. She embodied humility, compassion, kindness, and love and she will be dearly missed. Zemma’s unwavering faith in her Heavenly Father, is the foundation upon which she built her life. She was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, where she was an active congregant, serving as both a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Teacher. She loved learning and teaching and spent over 40 years feeding the hearts and minds of every child she came into contact with, not only teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also teaching them the value of community and caring for one another. This was accomplished first at Mobile Community Action Head Start and then with the Mobile County School System (Kate Shepherd Elementary). She lived a servant’s life and modeled a servant’s heart volunteering after retirement with the Foster Grandparents Program, at Word of Life Learning Institute. Zemma’s caring spirit and generous heart could be felt by anyone she came in contact with. She had a special gift of not only seeing the good in people but bringing out the best in them as well. She loved on people with hugs, kisses and smiles, but if you solicited her advice you had to be prepared to hear it straight, no ice, no chaser. She loved to cook for, entertain, celebrate, and support others. She beat to her own drum and cherished the many other fabulous drums that she surrounded herself with (Rose Marie French, Jewel Jones, and Rose Marie Washington; (all deceased), Alberta Martin, Myrtle Gayles, Daisy Branch, Sandra Nobles, Mary Allen, and Georgia Kennedy, just to name a few. She chose simple over flashy and was deeply sentimental. She was an example to many and a shining light to all who knew her. So, when you think of Zemma, celebrate the good memories you have of her. Remember that life is fragile and short and should be lived to the fullest. She will be missed more than any words could express but she will be forever in our hearts till we meet again.