Mrs. Rita Marie Williams

Rita Marie Farrell was born to Alex and Frances Farrell on January 3, 1956 in Saginaw, Michigan. She passed away Monday, December 24, 2018 at the age of 62 years. Rita attended St. Joseph Elementary, Sacred Heart Junior High and graduated from St. Peter and Paul High School in 1974. She graduated from Saginaw Business Institute, now known as Davenport University. Rita was a lifelong member of Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, where she was baptized by the late Pastor J.P. Wilson. She loved God and her church family. This was displayed through her dedication to the auxiliaries she was a part of. As a member at Mt. Olive she served with Christian Women United; Greeters, Body and Soul, Beautification, Gospel Choir and Very Important Parents Ministries and was a regular attendee at Bible Study and Sunday School. She was also a member of the Saginaw Valley Baptist District Choir. Rita had been employed at St. Mary’s Hospital and Second National (Huntington) Bank. She was also a member of the Northeast Side Neighborhood Association and had served on the Executive Board. Rita loved children. She found joy in serving in the Grandparents Program at Jessie Loomis Elementary, Frances Reh Academy and most recently Sherwood Elementary. In 1991, Rita was blessed with the birth of Donovan Flemings, the pride and focus of her life. In August of 2011 Rita married her friend, Delbert Williams. He preceded her in death in November of 2011. Rita is survived by son Donovan Flemings; step-daughter, Shanda Williams, with whom she had a very special relationship; parents, Alex and Frances Farrell; sisters: Linda Johnson Thomas and Rhonda Farrell-Butler, brothers: Perry (Gwen), DeLance, Derrick, Daryl, Dana, Bryan (Terry) Farrell and Delvin (Ernestine)Williams. Also surviving Rita are great-uncle, John (Shirley) Dunnaway; great-aunt, Marie Dunnaway; a special sister, Susann Wilson Moody; friends since childhood: Jo Ann Morgan Bowman, Kathy Lyda Dixon and Sandra Russ Lowery; sisters-in-law: Doretta, Nancy, Patricia and Rita Williams; and brother-in-law, Dwane Williams. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends, including Rita’s Village: Theodoris Ketchum, Penny Williams, Theresa Gipson, Patricia Whitson, Gwen Humes and Emma Atwater. Family hour will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, 1114 N. 6th St., Saginaw, MI 48601 with the memorial service commencing at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Marvin T. Smith will officiate.

Mrs. Rita Marie Williams

January 3, 1956 - December 24, 2018