Rene May Williams

Rene May Williams was born in "Bronti" Christiana, on September 20, 1935. She was the fourth of eight children born to Julia Bell McNamee and Aubrey Brooks. Rene lost both of her parents at a young age and moved to London, England, to live with her aunt, Blanche Edwards, who raised her. Rene attended school and worked odd jobs until she decided to leave London and reunite with her love, Felix, in the United States. Felix and Rene were married on July 2, 1965.

Together, they decided to start a family and worked hard to achieve the dream of having a home for the family they would create. Felix worked at the Tri borough Bridge and Tunnel, while Rene took domestic jobs so she could be available to care for their two children, Kenny and Audrey. Once the children were old enough to go to school independently,

Rene sought a more stable job to help maintain the foundation she and Felix were building.

Rene started working at Beth Israel Medical Center, where she later retired after 20 years. In her retirement years, she traveled back and forth between New York and her home in Florida. Rene loved New York. She enjoyed taking the bus to shop at the mall, walking to nearby stores, and socializing with her neighbors, with whom she was a staple for over 50 years. Rene's greatest love was her family, and her favorite sport: wrestling! If you knew Rene, you knew wrestling was her passion. She watched every week, every pay per-view event, and every rerun whenever possible. This was her form of entertainment.

Rene adored her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Whenever and wherever she was needed, she was there. She always cooked for her grandkids in her earlier years, ensuring their favorite meals were ready. All they had to do was come upstairs to find Grandma had prepared meals for them. She made it a point to pick up her grandson Brandon from school every day, rain, snow, or shine. Her love for Brandon was evident, as was her love for all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

It was a joy to have the family together to celebrate her 89th birthday in the last few weeks of her life, knowing it would likely be her last. She was alert and present that day and mustered the strength to blow out the candles on her cake.

Rene peacefully went to sleep on October 8th, knowing her work was done and that she would soon be reunited with her beloved Felix, with whom she was married for 59 years this past July, as well as her Lord and Savior. She was loved by many—her family, including nieces and nephews abroad and in different states, cousins, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Rene's immediate family who will miss her immensely includes her son, Kenny Williams; her daughter, Audrey Williams-Clouden; her grandchildren, Nikeisha Williams,

Markese Williams, Ariel Williams-Rogers, and Brandon Clouden; her great-grandsons, Kendell Rogers and Andrew Rogers; her great-granddaughter, Kenya Rogers; and her beloved son-in-law, Robert K. Clouden.