Mary Tallualah Newsome Williams
Darlington, SC — Mary Tallualah Newsome Williams of Darlington died on Monday, April 10, 2023, at Bethea Retirement Community. She was born on August 31, 1932, in Hartsville, SC, to John Leslie and Nell Goodson Newsome. Mrs. Williams was married to Richard G. Williams, Sr. for 58 years. During that time, she owned Window Designs by Tallualah and her talented craftsmanship adorned the windows of countless homes and businesses, including Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home. Besides her drapery business, Mrs. Williams taught drapery construction at Florence-Darlington Technical College in their continuing adult education program. In addition, Mrs. Williams worked for many more years at her home church, First Baptist Church of Darlington, as their hostess, creating the Wednesday night meals and supervising the use of the kitchen. Her Lord, church, and family were Mrs. Williams’ greatest loves. Where most people delve into their family trees to see what famous people they are related to in history, Mrs. Williams loved knowing to whom around her she was kin. She would point out this person or that person and say, “They are related to us through…”. She was always very proud of her kith and kin; they were all kings and queens in her mind. In her waning days, one nephew remarked, “Who will we ask about our history when Aunt Tallualah is gone?” Mrs. Williams was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister, and her sister’s husband, Lottie and Kenneth Bryant. Her loss is mourned by her three children and their spouses Gerry and Beaty Williams, Dena and William Anderson, Susie and Ronnie Byrd; eight grandchildren and spouses, Jonna and David Yarbrough, Will and Carlye Anderson, David and Sarah Anderson, Kirby and Austin Boyce, Wesley and Kayla Byrd, Tallulah Williams, Catherine Williams and Richard G. “Bear” Williams, III. She also has twelve great grandchildren Kate, Nora, and Davis Yarbrough; Abby Anderson; Elizabeth and Sloan Anderson; Wesley, Porter, and Harper Boyce; Bennett, Libby, and Charlie Byrd. Mrs. Williams has two brothers and a sister who also survive; John and Pam Newsome, Darrell and Debi Newsome, and Janice Flowers. Her beloved niece and friend, Janis Munnerlyn, suffers her loss along with a myriad of other nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored. Dear to her were Connie and Frankie Woodard and their children. Anna Boyce, Shannon Brown, and Wanda Cotton hold a special place in Mrs. Williams’ life and are remembered with gratitude by the family. The family also thanks Bethea Retirement Community. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 19, at Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home from 5 PM until 7 PM. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 13, at First Baptist Church of Darlington at 11 AM with Dr. Brian Sherwood and Rev. Renny Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Grove Hill Cemetery in Darlington. Memorials or donations may be made to the steeple fund of First Baptist Church of Darlington.
