Frances B. Williams

Long time Little Rock resident Frances B. Williams, widow of E. Grainger Williams, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. A celebration of her life will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2015. The daughter of the late Congressman Alfred Lee Bulwinkle and Bessie Lewis Bulwinkle, she was born in Dallas, North Carolina, on July 26, 1912. She married E. Grainger Williams in 1939; they were a strong and dynamic team for almost 74 years. Their children are Ann W. Wedaman (Don Frankland) of Overland Park, KS 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. and Cal Ledbetter, E. Grainger Williams (the late Virginia), June H. Williams, all of Little Rock, and Quendrid W. Veatch (Ralph) of Tulsa, OK. Her well-loved grandchildren are Michael Wedaman (Michelle), David Wedaman (Sarah Klein), Sarah Wedaman (Lesley Quinn), Heather Williams Whitson (Scott), J. Grainger Williams (Becca Grunnels), 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 and Ross Peterson-Veatch (Erica); 26 great-grandchildren also enriched her life. One of Frances's greatest contributions to this community was her willingness to stand up for equal public educational opportunities for all during the Little Rock Crisis in 1957-58, and the years following. She was an original member, and on the executive committee, of the Women's Emergency Committee to Open our Schools and was active in service during the life of that organization. She was also an active member of Central Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Second Presbyterian Church, all in Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Frances and Grainger Williams Endowment Fund at Presbyterian Village, 510 N. Brookside Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72205; Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72227; Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, 1720 Ferncliff Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72223 or a charity of your choice. Online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.