Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Evelyn Williams were conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday morning, April 23, 2022, at Saulters Moore Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment was held at 2 p.m., following the funeral service, at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery in Hazlehurst.  Bro. Al Mosley officiated.  Mrs. Williams, age 85, passed away Monday afternoon, April 18, 2022, at the Jefferson Davis Extended Care Facility in Prentiss.

Mrs. Mary Evelyn Williams was born on May 22, 1936, in Jefferson Davis County to John William and Elizabeth Speights Kirkley.  After graduation, Mrs. Williams enrolled in the Vicksburg Commercial College, where she took several accounting and clerical classes.  Afterwards, she was a student at Prentiss Institute, where she studied Criminal Justice, Business Law, Economics and Legal First Aid. Mrs. Williams was also a student at the University of Southern Mississippi where she studied Civil Litigation, Paralegal, Computer 100 and Legal Research.  In 1971, she worked as a secretary and Bookkeeper for Big 10 Tire Company until 1984.  While working for Big 10 Tire, she also worked for A & P Grocery and Shop-A-Mint as a part time cashier and assisted with inventory and bank deposits.  In 1991, Mrs. Williams began working for the Country Fisherman Restaurant.  Finally, after many years of working for others, Mrs. Williams fulfilled a lifelong dream and opened her own restaurant in Columbia, The Round Table, which she operated for 15 years. She was also a member of the Eastern Star, where she was elected officer seven times.  In addition, she also raised funds for the American Cancer Association and American Heart Association for five years.  Mrs. Williams was a member of Dublin Baptist Church.

Mrs. Williams was preceded in death by her parents, John William and Elizabeth Kirkley, two sisters, Ruby Nell Stewart, Ophia Elizabeth Wallace; two grandchildren, Alicia Dawn Williams, James Shannon Williams Jr. and also two nephews, one niece and one great nephew.

She is survived by her daughter, Tammy Williams of Raymond; three sons, James Shannon Williams of Bassfield, Preston Lamar Williams (Phyllis) of Carson, Timmy Lamar Williams (Rachel) of Vicksburg; two sisters, Betty Catherine Lopez of Carson, Elsie Jean Little of Florence; one brother, Billy Kirkley of Prentiss and nine grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers were James Shannon Williams, Preston Lamar Williams, Timmy Lamar Williams, Tim Dyess, David Hogg and Richard Leuer.

The family received friends Friday evening, April 22, 2022, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Saulters Moore Funeral Home.

Online condolences and a guest registry are available at www.saultersmoorefuneralhome.com.