Ebissa Grainger Williams

Little Rock native E. Grainger Williams, beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather, civic and religious leader, died Tuesday April 2, 2013 at his home. He was born on July 23, 1911 to the late John Henry and Ann Grainger Williams, the 8th of 11 children. He attended Little Rock Public Schools, Little Rock Junior College (UALR) and graduated cum laude from Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina. After college he worked for The Honorable David D. Terry, member of Congress from Arkansas, for 5 years before returning to Little Rock to join the Williams & Rosen Insurance Agency. He served in various capacities, assuming its presidency from 1965 until his retirement in1976. He married Frances McKean Bulwinkle in 1939; they were a strong and dynamic team for almost 74 years. Their children are Ann Williams Wedaman (Don Frankland) Overland Park, Kan. and Alfred L. Williams (Elaine Eubank) of LIttle Rock. Grainger and Frances's family expanded to include three nieces and a nephew after the death of their parents: the late Brownie W. Ledbetter (Cal), E. Grainger Williams (the late Virginia), June H. Williams, all of LIttle Rock, and Quendrid W. Veatch (Ralph) of Tulsa, Okla. His well-loved grandchildren are Michael Wedaman (Michelle), David Wedaman (Sarah Klein), Sarah Wedaman (Lesley Quinn), Heather Williams Whitson (Scott), J. Grainger Williams, Grainger Ledbetter (Sherry Curry), the late Jeff Ledbetter, Snow Ledbetter Moen (Chris), Helon W. Quiggins (Bill), Beth W. Yandell, William H. Williams, Melinda Veatch (Glen Ely), Amy Veatch (Miles Wright) and Ross Peterson-Veatch (Erica). Twenty great-grandchildren also enriched his life: Leah & Isaac Wedaman, Wang Tian Yang & Kien Nyugen, Ellery & Jackson Budan, Cassidy Williams, Campbell, Mary & Jeffrey Curry-Ledbetter, Lily & Gwyneth Moen, Helon & Leila Wright, Sean & Robin Nadji, Shelby Quiggins, Katie June & Will Yandell, and Benjamin, Samuel & Caroline Williams. A member of the U.S.Naval Reserve from 1944-1950, Grainger was on active duty 1944-1946, serving on the staff of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Guam, and on the staff of the Admiral of the Fifth Fleet, Japan. Professionally, he was Chairman of the Little Rock Public Schools' Advisory Insurance Committee (1955-76), active in the Independent Insurors of Arkansas (president 1974-75), as well as a member of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Fire & Casualty Insurance. He received the Allan Kennedy Award for outstanding insurance agent in 1957. That he cared that everyone have an equal opportunity in life is reflected in his religious and civic activities. He was an elder in three LIttle Rock presbyterian churches: Central Presbyterian, St. Andrew's Presbyterian and Second Presbyterian. He served as Moderator of Washburn Presbytery, Synod of Arkansas (PCUS) and on the Board of Trustees, Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Ala. from 1961-1988. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Village, Inc. in Little Rock. He served on the Board of Directors of Shepherd's Center (now LifeQuest) in Little Rock 1980-2000. He was a member of the Board of Trustees, the Presbyterian Foundation of Arkansas-Oklahoma 1983-1994, twice serving as its chairperson. One of the original board members of the Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center in Ferndale, AR, he also served on its board from 1985-2000. One of his greatest contributions to this community was his willingness to stand up for public education when he was installed as president of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce in 1959. "It was something I had to do regardless" [Breaking the Silence by Sara A. Murphy, 1997, p.112]. It was an example of his core philosophy of doing what was right and needed to be done. He was president of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, its president 1963-64 and a recipient of its first Paul Harris Award. He was a member of the Pulaski County Board of Education 1965-1997, and on the Advisory Board of the YWCA from 1950-1995. He was active in the American Red Cross, both the Pulaski County Chapter and the Midwest Area Council,1951-1960. He loyally supported Little Rock University as a member of its Board of Trustees from 1959-1969, serving as its chairperson during its merger with the University of Arkansas, and later as a member of the Board of Visitors UALR. He also gave his time to the Better Business Bureau of Little Rock, the United Way, Community Council of Central Arkansas, Arkansas Professional Malpractice Commission, Executive Service Corps of Arkansas, and the Alternative Committee on Professional Conduct of the Arkansas Supreme Court. He thoroughly enjoyed serving on the Ottenheimer Board of Trustees and Board of Directors, from 1985 until his death. He also received honors as Boss of the Year from the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce (1959), Shield of the Trojan Award (LRJC/UALR), CareLink's David Pryor award and the Marie Award. Grainger is survived by his wife, Frances, of the home, the family mentioned above, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his siblings Fannie W. Mayer, Emma W. Reddan, William H. Williams, John H. Williams, Jr., Minnie W. Tomlinson, Ann B. Williams, Mary W. Rath, Josephine H. Williams, Louise W. Wolfe and Nena W. Hulslander. Additionally he was predeceased by Alfred L and Bessie Bulwinkle, Lewis and Manon Bulwinkle, Brownie and Jeff Ledbetter, Virginia Williams and Tom Wedaman. The creative world was vitally important to Grainger. He loved singing and music as evidenced by his support of the LIttle Rock Wind Symphony. He even performed in plays during high school and college (stage name "David Grainger"). He also enjoyed woodworking, crocheting, hooking rugs, baking bread and making Christmas ornaments. The family thanks Charlene Estes, Rosemary Beavers, Diane Beavers, Angel Parks, Keisha Coakley, and Gussie Robinson for their incredible caring and affection, and AR Hospice for its comforting care. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Second Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to CareLInk, 700 Riverfront Drive, North Little Rock, Ark. 72114-5548, Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center, 1720 Ferncliff Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72223-9404, Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72227-2149 or a charity of your choice. Please send the family of Grainger your messages of love, comfort and support to his online guestbook at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.