Juanita Barger Williams

LEXINGTON, NC-Mrs. Juanita Barger Williams, 86, of Lexington, NC, went gently into the arms of her Lord on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Forsyth Medical Center following a brief illness. Mrs. Williams was born in Hickory, NC to James and Thelma Barger on November 26, 1926. Mrs. Williams graduated from Mineral Springs High School and then attended nursing school at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, NC, where she was named class president and a graduate of the class of 1953. Despite a rule that required nursing students to be unwed, she secretly married her sweetheart, Joel Wesley Williams, Jr., two days before Christmas in 1952, after he'd returned home from serving in the Korean War. The devoted couple, often seen walking hand in hand, celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary just days before Mr. Williams was called home to his Lord in 2011. Mrs. Williams always said her five brothers taught her to be tough, and she never shied from hard labor. She worked as a registered nurse at what was then known as North Carolina Baptist Hospital and later as a private duty nurse, often working seven days a week. Meanwhile, she and her husband raised two children. When she retired, she'd served faithfully as a nurse for more than 30 years. In retirement, you were likely to find Mrs. Williams, her white hair pulled back with bobby pins, on the lawnmower or working in her expansive garden. Mrs. Williams never minced words, and no one had to guess her opinions. She was painstakingly thrifty, but she was always generous with those she loved, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who knew her as ""MawMaw."" Preceding Mrs. Williams in death along with her husband are her parents, one sister, Norma Barger Richardson and two brothers, June and Ed Barger. Mrs. Williams is survived by her son, Joel Williams of Lewisville, NC; one daughter, Karen Cooke and husband, Randy, of Winston-Salem; grandchildren, Christopher Williams and wife, Sharon, April Williams, Olivia Williams, Meghan Cooke and Brad Cheek; great-grandchildren, Madison and Kennedy; brothers, Ralph Barger of St. Louis, MO, Horace Barger of Ocala, FL and Jerry Barger of Richmond, VA; and two nephews, Phillip Williams and wife, Isis, and Wesley Williams. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Pastor Chris Byrne officiating. Burial will follow the service at Forsyth Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Leukemia Society of America, 600 Third Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

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