Velma Williams

Velma Irene Mitman Williams, age 96, of Cartersville, GA passed away at Cartersville Medical Center on Monday, February 29, 2016. She was the daughter of the late William Bissey Mitman and Elizabeth Irene Rosenberger Mitman. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Williams, Jr. and their eldest daughter, Lynn W. Didden.

Velma was born April 2, 1919 in Carversville, PA. She grew up in Downingtown, PA where she started to play the piano in 1926. This lead to a lifelong career in music. She graduated from Downingtown High School in 1937 with honors and played piano with the D.H.S. jazz band, "The Syncopators." She continued to play in the band while entering college at West Chester University in West Chester, PA. She studied bassoon under a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra while in college and after graduating in 1941 with a B.S. in Music Education, she started graduate work at Temple University in Philadelphia. While teaching at that time in the Philadelphia area, she also joined the Philadelphia All Female Piano Orchestra. She was married in 1946 to Charles E. Williams, Jr. upon his return from serving in WWII. They remained married for 40 years until his death in 1987.

From 1941 – 1965 Velma taught vocal, instrumental, and private piano lessons along with teaching K-12 music education in various school districts in the surrounding Philadelphia area. In 1965 she started teaching elementary education at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, PA. She continued to teach there as both faculty and private piano instructor till the mid 1980's. She instilled music in the lives of many students through choral and piano instruction.

She was a member of the North and Southampton Reformed Church in Churchville, PA where she served on various committees. In 2013 she moved to Cartersville, GA to be near her daughter, Lori W. McAllister and grandchildren, Heather and Sidney McAllister. She resided at Felton Manor Personal Care Home where she was cared for by
eir loving staff.

A visitation will take place at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Friday, March 4, 2016 from 5pm-7pm. Future memorial and burial arrangements will take place later in the month in Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the Bartow County Library System.

Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Velma Williams; please visit www.parnickjenningsfuneral.com to share memories or to leave a condolence message.