MADELINE WILLIAMSON
Madeline “Mamaw” B. Williamson, 101, was born April 10, 1922, in Columbus, Texas. She peacefully died Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, at TruCare Living Centers in Columbus just after 10 a.m. — one day early of the 24th anniversary of her twin sister Adeline’s passing.
Madeline’s favorite time of year was the fall holidays beginning with Thanksgiving and continuing through Christmas. Christmas decorations, specifically snowmen, adorned every inch of her house. Everyone knew the food was going to be kitchen during the year, preparing and serving three amazing. She was passionate about cooking and was found most often in her meals a day, promptly at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.
Everyone was welcome. Never one to say no, she was ready to go anywhere, anytime with anyone, even if just to a local store. She loved to travel and had the good fortune to make it to all 50 states and Canada. Because of her love for cooking and entertaining, she collected dishes for the various holidays and had teacups and saucers from most of her travels. A “holiday tree” stood in her dining room all year, decor changing to match the upcoming holiday.
She volunteered as a Sunday school teacher at the First Baptist Church in Columbus for many years while she was a young grandmother and also volunteered at River Oaks Nursing Home as an activities director/associate, often dragging along Shane and Tammy in her shenanigans in full costumes to entertain the residents.
Later in life she transferred to the Glidden Baptist Church where she attended weekly until she was no longer able to drive in her early 80s.
Not one to shy away from hard work, she would clean house on Mondays, nap mid-afternoon most days, and mow two yards weekly and do laundry and hang it on the line in the backyard to dry at least once a week.
Her smile and laughter were infectious and everyone knew her locally as Mamaw. She was an inspiration to everyone she knew and everyone was blessed to meet her. She raised her children and helped with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Columbus and was passionate about the local history of the town.
While her husband was out of town as a conductor for Southern Pacific Railroad, she would hold down the fort and help run their electronic business, one of the first in Columbus where you could buy a television and radio and get them repaired at Williamson’s TV & Service.
Clyde and Madeline built their home with their own hands over a few years in the early 1950s, Mamaw even laying the hardwood floors herself.
Over the past 10 years, she was on and off hospice three times. They said she just wasn’t ready to go.
Dr. Robert Youens of Weimar, Texas, used to joke with her, saying she would live to be 120. At 101, she had perfect vision without glasses, all of her teeth, no hearing aids, and her sound mind, still joking, smiling, sassy and laughing. She was humble and quite a character, up for almost anything. When she was in her early 80s, she even talked about skydiving. Her doctor talked her out of it.
Survivors include her daughter, Sharon K. McIntyre of Columbus; son, Wayne W. Williamson and wife Virgie of Columbus; grandsons, Robert “Robbie” Williamson and wife Shelley of Cut & Shoot, Texas, and Shane P. Theriot of Columbus; granddaughters, Tammy Aguilar and husband Gerardo of Columbus, and Dani Stock and husband Ronnie of Weimar; step-grandchildren, James “Macky” O. McIntyre and wife Melissa of Bellville, Texas, Chris Gage and wife Kari of Arlington, Texas, Mary Jane Dolejsi and husband Thomas of Midland, Texas, and John Lange and wife Julie of Denver; great-grandchildren Keardon C. Schindler and Ashley Andruss of Houston, Bryce L. Schindler of Columbus, and Lainey E. Schindler of Columbus; step-great-grandchildren, brothers Jake and Connor McIntyre of Bellville, sisters Alexa, Anastasia and Jasmine Lange of Denver, siblings Piper Jane and Bryant Dolejsi of Midland, siblings Sarah Smith and Ron Smith and Alysa Morgan and husband Jake of College Station, Texas, and siblings Kayla Harley Aguilar of Schertz, Texas, Alonzo Aguilar and wife Samantha of Austin, and Zander Aguilar and wife Olivia of San Antonio; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Clyde Walton Williamson; parents, William “Will” Fred Hillmer and Alma Louise Miller Hillmer; sisters Ernetta Townsend, Willie Lee Chastain, Waldene Creed and twin Adeline Miller.
Visitation was Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at Henneke Funeral Home, 1515 Montezuma St. in Columbus. A funeral service with the Rev. Victor Morrison was Friday, Sept. 8, at the funeral home.
Burial was in Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus.
Pallbearers were Wayne Williamson, Shane P. Theriot, Angie Hill, Gerardo Aguilar, Macky McIntyre, Bryce Schindler and Keardon Schindler.
Memorials may be given to Glidden Baptist Church, 209 8th St., Glidden, TX 78943.
Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.com.