Florence Williams

Graveside services are scheduled for 10 am Thursday, January 13, 2022, at Woodbine Cemetery for Florence Williams of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mrs. Williams, 79, died on January 11, 2022 at her home in Artesia.

Lance Morrisett and Michael Joiner will officiate at the services. Pallbearers will be Darren Holley, Scott Simer, Chad Jackson, Triston Whitmire, Cooper Rickman and Kevin Bartley. Honorary pallbearers will be Odge Olsen, Jerry Dodd and Jerry Sexton.

Florence was born on December 29, 1942, to J.W. Lay and Eloise Moye Lay in Cuthbert, Georgia. Florence graduated from Cuthbert High School in 1961, and then attended Andrew College. On December 24, 1965, Florence left her cherished Cuthbert to marry Mike B. Williams on January 2, 1966. Her dear friends, Sandra Hayes Thompson and Jep Harris, drove her mother, Eloise, from Georgia to Monahans, TX, in order to attend Florence and Mike's wedding. Mike and Florence then honeymooned at Carlsbad Caverns. This was Florence's first time in New Mexico, and she believed that God got mad at this part of the world because it wasn't lush and green like Georgia. However, Mike and Florence made their home in Artesia and had a daughter, Mykol Jaye Horner, and two grandsons, Decker Wayne Reno and William Kace Horner.

Florence had a passion for life and for her family. While Mykol was growing up, Florence could be counted on to be the team mom for any teams Mykol played on, especially softball. She was a fervent supporter of Mykol and she and Mike traveled to many states and cities to watch Mykol play softball. When her grandsons began participating in athletics and activities, Florence and Mike were ever-present fixtures at their events. Florence was Mymaw to Decker and Myo to Kace. Each had their own, individual, and very unique relationship with their grandmother and the impact she made on them will be a treasure Decker and Kace will carry with them always.

Florence held a life-long love for her home state of Georgia. Florence believed the grass and trees were always greener and the sky was always bluer in Georgia. She especially enjoyed the trees, azaleas, wisteria, and kudzu found at her home. She drank Georgia sweet tea and loved boiled peanuts. Florence liked fishing for perch with a cane pole and crickets as bait. However, it was Mike's job to bait her hook and take the fish off once she caught one. Florence was also a great shot and could shoot a bb through the mouth of a Gatorade bottle again and again. Overall, the southern hospitality found in Georgia was one of the things she loved most. Florence also enjoyed gardening, reading, politics, and watching Fox News.

Florence is survived by her husband of 56 years, Mike Williams, of their home in Artesia, NM; daughter, Mykol Horner, of Artesia; grandsons Decker Reno of Lubbock, TX, and Kace Horner of Artesia; cousins Bonny Olsen and husband Odge, Viki Yates, and Justin Yates. Florence was preceded in death by her parents, J.W. and Eloise Lay, her paternal grandparents, C.T. and Lonnie Cooper Lay, her maternal grandparents, R.L. and Florence Powell Moye, who was her namesake, as well as her father and mother-in-law, James E and Mayme Brewer Williams.

In lieu of flowers, Florence has requested that donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Cuthbert, Georgia, 193 W. Church St., Cuthbert, GA 39840, 229-732-2276, cuthbertfirstpresbyterian@gmail.com, or to the Cuthbert Water Tower restoration project. Donations for the Cuthbert Water Tower can be made to the Randolph Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority, 229-732-2683.