Mary Ann Dunn Williams

Mrs. Mary Ann Dunn Williams of Lakeland, FL, age 93, passed away of natural causes on Sunday morning, August 18, 2024, into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Robert Edwin Williams, M.D., in 2020 after which time she moved to the Estates at Carpenters. She is survived by her daughter Jan Williams Cook (David) of Lakeland, FL, and her son Scott Robert Williams (Elisabeth) of Winston Salem, NC, her beloved five grandchildren and their spouses: Sarah (Benjamin), Emily, Marianne (Chris), Lauren (Aaron), and James (Meredith). However, granddaughter Marianne Williams Graves, age 35, followed her grandmother in death exactly a week later due to breast cancer. Mary Ann is also survived by five cherished great-grandchildren: Ella, Harper, Hudson, Olive, and baby girl Williams due in January. Mary Ann will also be greatly missed by beloved long-time household helper and friend Edith Johnson.

Mary Ann was born in St. Louis, MO to Grace Henson Dunn and Claude Dunn in 1931. When Mary Ann was age 3, her father died of pneumonia before the development of penicillin. After growing up in St. Louis, Mary Ann met Bob on a blind date during their junior years at the University of Missouri where Mary Ann served as Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority president. Mary Ann and Bob married in 1953, a week after she earned her Bachelor of Journalism degree. They lived in Washington, D.C., Homestead AFB, FL, and Baltimore, MD while Bob continued in medical school, military service, & residency training. They moved to Lakeland in 1963 when Bob joined the Watson Clinic. They both loved Lakeland and invested themselves in contributing to the community that became their home for 60 years.

The Williams joined First Presbyterian Church in 1965 where they served in various capacities over the years and were an active part of the Growth Sunday school class for decades.

Mary Ann did some free-lance travel writing for the Lakeland Ledger and also had an article published in Southern Living magazine. She and Bob passed on their love of travel to their family. They had many wonderful trips in the United States and abroad.

In addition to her parents, Mary Ann was also predeceased by stepfather Harold Krutzman, her brother Jerry Dunn, and her sister-in-law Priscilla Dunn, and is survived by two nephews and their spouses.

The character qualities for which Mary Ann will be most remembered include her kindness to others and being a loving mother who raised her children with great devotion, always encouraging Jan and Scott and expecting the best from them. She was consistently involved in volunteer leadership roles in their schools and activities. She was a generous and fun-loving grandmother and great-grandmother who was eager to cater to her grandchildren’s interests and was very invested in their futures. She also provided levity and laughter for her extended family in various ways. She found absurd gag gifts to share on Christmas morning. She came up with unique “creative solutions” to problems such as spray painting a dead front yard shrub green until it could be replaced. She was the source of hilarious stories that continue to be retold, such as when she dressed up as Jacques Cousteau for her son’s 6th grade class to interview as part of a creative writing exercise she was facilitating. Outfitted in flippers and scuba mask, she hid in the classroom’s A/C closet to be ready to appear when the students arrived. However, she startled an unsuspecting A/C repair man who opened the closet door before the students arrived and exclaimed “my wife is never going to believe this!!”

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801 or to Watson Clinic Cancer & Research Center, 1730 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33805 designated for breast cancer research.

The family wishes to express much gratitude to the wonderful staff and many loving caregivers throughout the Estates at Carpenters system, healthcare advocate Mary Lucia Spake, R.N. who assisted the family with appropriate healthcare decision-making during the last six months, as well as to the family caregiver team of Gloria, Elizabeth, and Kimberly who provided 24/7 care in her assisted living apartment at the Estates at Carpenters during Mary Ann’s last six weeks of life.

A memorial celebration of life will be held for family in the coming months with an inurnment at the First Presbyterian Church columbarium to follow.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’” Romans 10:9-11

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13