Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Williams

Going Home Celebration For Margaret Elizabeth Smith-Williams: Margaret Elizabeth Smith was born on September 8, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan. The only child of Mrs. Alice Gist Smith. From five to thirteen years of age, Margaret lived in Grindstone, Pennsylvania with her aunt and uncle, Helen and Osby Roberts where she attended Madison Junior High School. It was during this time that she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Margaret returned to Detroit and graduated from Miller Junior High and then Northwestern High School in 1942. She attended Detroit Unity Temple starting in the 1950s under the guidance of Minister Eric Butterworth. Margaret subsequently met Celester "Pete" Anderson, and this loving bond produced their only child, daughter Bette Karen Anderson for whom they shared a lifetime of devotion. Pete preceded her in death in March of 1996. Margaret married Walter Joseph Williams in 1963 and they divorced in May of 1971. As a career minded progressive, she held positions with Detroit's Landmark women's clothing store, B. Siegel's as part of the clerical staff. She went on to join Motor Products, the Burroughs Corporation as a KeyPunch Operator. In 1962 she joined the Main Post Office in downtown Detroit as a Machine Operator. This position required her to identify and sort the mail for the state of Pennsylvania. In 1980 Margaret transferred to the Highland Park branch of the Post Office as a Window Clerk. While a clerk at Highland Park she began to show concern of her fellow workers and wanted to become more involved with the union. Under former Local President, Douglas C. Holbrook, Margaret was appointed to serve as steward for the American Postal Workers' Union where she was in a better position to represent the bargaining unit employees. Margaret also joined POWER (Post Office Women for Equal Rights), which was a committee for all women who work for the Post Office. After retirement in 1986 she became a Mary Kay Consultant, delivering products near and far. Margaret was an avid reader, a consummate mathematician (to many a cashier's chagrin). She still did her own taxes. She thoroughly enjoyed gardening, as evidenced by the rosebushes, impatiens, begonias, dusty millers, hostas she painstakingly tended at her former home on Renfrew Road and her residences at Sherwood Heights Apartments. Always having a penchant for the underdog she remained curious and observant of the world, concerned with injustices and readily offered wisdom and insight. Margaret had a lifelong love of independence, self-worth and being her own person. She had just purchased a "new" Chevy Malibu in March of 2015. She attended monthly community meetings at the 12th precinct with her neighbor, Margaret Johnson. Margaret loved the world of sports and its many venues. She played the position of Point Guard in junior high school. She watched the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings. She routinely scheduled time to watch the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Lions, and other NBA and NFL games. Her favorite current Piston player was Brandon Jennings and her all-time favorite Piston was Isiah Thomas. She still harbored an affection for the Pittsburgh Steelers. She adored the Detroit Pistons. She, Bran and Karen had 10 game packages for the last two years at the Palace. She could coach teams, situations and plays better than the coaches that held the jobs. Margaret also enjoyed the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. She was ecstatic to see another Triple Crown Winner, American Pharoah this past summer after 39 years. She had an affinity for dogs, movies, jazz music, jazz concerts, soulful ballads, Michael Franks, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, thus, "God Bless the Child" being her favorite song. Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and more recently Gloria Lynne, Oleta Adams and Randy Crawford rounded out her favorites. The saxophone was her favorite instrument especially when played by David Sanborn and Kirk Whalum. She imparted all these loves to her daughter and her granddaughter. She enjoyed shopping and was a fastidious dresser. She cherished her independence and being able to do for herself and drive herself wherever she needed and wanted to go. She was an excellent cook who always tweaked the dishes she prepared. Her Seven-Up and Chocolate Pound Cakes were poetry to your mouth. Margaret departed this life on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 6:10 pm at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan.

Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Williams

September 8, 1924 - January 7, 2016