Oma Bernice Williams

 Oma "Bernice" Williams, age 75, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, passed away after an extended illness on Nov. 16, 2022 with her husband of 56 years, Sandy, by her side.

Bernice Williams was born April 27th, 1947 in Greenup County, Kentucky.  She was born and raised on the family farm and graduated from Wurtland High School in 1965.   She was 1965 Miss Wurtland and participated and won numerous other beauty pageants.  Her outward beauty was only exceeded by her inner beauty including her kind giving heart.  After graduating she attended Morehead State University, where she met Sandy Williams.  After a beautiful courtship they were married in Ashland, Kentucky and started their family of three sons ultimately moving to Fort Walton Beach, Florida to raise their family. 

While juggling the fulltime job of raising three sons, she started a career in finance with Beneficial Corporation and through her hard work ethic and business acumen rose to branch manager.  A wonderful wife and mother, she was the glue that held the family together. She helped throughout the years behind the scenes in the family businesses. Whether cleaning condos, making banners, driving her boys, or collecting cover charges at the club she always did it with a smile. She always supported her husband and three sons with encouragement in all of their endeavors with not only her words, but with her actions. Post retirement she followed her passion of interior design and started her own interior design company and retail store,  Decor & More, offering clients her creative eye for color and style.

From country girl to sun loving fashionista she loved sitting around the pool at Seaspray with her grandkids and cookouts on the beach. Her favorite thing to do was to relax on her balcony and watch the boats and dolphins on the bay.  She loved to shop and to take others shopping but loved a sale even more. She loved her fellowship with her Beta Sigma Phi sorority sisters and was always giving to her community.  She  was such a huge part of so many family and friends’ lives  and had such a positive impact on them. You could always rely on her to be the voice of reason and give honest advice. There was always an extra seat at the table for whatever friends may pop in for dinner. Family and friends always looked forward to her hospitality on their many visits to the beach. Her giving nature, wonderful personality, and smile that could light up any room will be missed by all. She had a great love of the Lord and maintained her faith all of her life.

   Bernice is survived by her husband John “Sandy” Williams of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; sons Michael C. (Heather) Williams of Destin, Florida, and Matthew W. Williams of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; daughter in law Donna G. Williams of Milton, Florida;  four grandchildren: Taylor Altintas, Noah Williams, Olivia Williams and Sophie Williams; 2 great grandchildren: Ayla Altintas and Devrim Altintas; brother Garal S. (Sondra) Boyle of Argillite, KY; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her son Stephen “Mark” Williams; parents Arthur and Opal Boyle; two brothers: Dallas Boyle and Gilford Boyle; five sisters: Wanda Sperry, Joann Snoddy, Bonnie Elswick, Theda Eldridge and Sharon Payne.

There will be a visitation  for family and friends on Tuesday November 29th from 5-6pm with service to follow at McLaughlin Mortuary 17 Chestnut Avenue SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

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