Willie Faye (Breland) Williams

Willie Faye Williams, 89 of the Riceville community, passed away June 26, 2023 at her home. She was born at the family home in the old Riceville community on December 08, 1933, the oldest of three children to Ernest and Calonia (Ladner) Breland. Folks have always wondered where she got the name Willie Faye. Well as the story goes, her mother allowed the midwife who delivered her to pick her name. Since then, she has been Willie Faye. She grew up in rural Harrison county on the small family farm. Growing gardens, tending animals and whatever else needed to be done, Willie Faye was right there. As the oldest, she was often tasked with more chores than her siblings, but that didn't bother her a bit. Willie Faye loved fishing and did so as often as she could. She attended the old Sellers School and married Hascal Williams. They made their home in Riceville where they have lived since, raising their family and large gardens as well through the years. Willie Faye could fix hair, and was soon the person that most everyone was coming to. So, she decided to go to American Beauty School in Gulfport, and opened her own shop. Many will remember Faye's Beauty Shop, which she operated for many years. She is remembered as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. A Christian by her faith, Willie Faye was always the first one to help whenever she knew of a need. She had some piano lessons early on, and added her ability to play by ear as well, serving as pianist at Persimmon Hill and at Grace Baptist for many years, where her and Hascal were founding members. Her love of fishing didn't diminish over the years either, and she was right there with the best of them. But she did so much more, like sewing clothes for her daughters, making some of the best shrimp gumbo and corn soup you could find, and just being a wonderful mother and grandmother. Willie Faye enjoyed reading and studying her Bible, and was a faithful church member for as long as her health allowed. For all that she was and more, she will be deeply missed until we are reunited with her in heaven. She was preceded by her parents, Ernest and Calonia Breland, her sister Yvonne Ladnier, her husband of 70 years, Hascal Williams, and her son-in-law, Charles Yates. Left to cherish her memories are: her five daughters: Donnis Yates of Pass Christian, Deborah (Louis) Mann and Demple (Mike) Gavin, both of Saucier, Vickie (Jerry) Gremillion of LaPlace, LA, and Audrey (Tommy) Boutwell of Perkinston, with a grandson she raised as her own, Billy Keene; and one sister Dorothy Ann (James) Alexander, also of Saucier. She leaves a long legacy, five generations in fact, including 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grands, and 9 great-great grands, along with numerous extended family, friends, neighbors, and happy customers through the years. Services are scheduled for Saturday, July 1st at Trinity Funeral Services in McHenry. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by a chapel service at 11:00. Afterward, Willie Faye will be laid to rest beside her husband in the Persimmon Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the 5th floor nursing staff at Memorial Hospital, as well as the staff at Vital Caring Hospice, for the comfort and care they provided to our mother. We are so thankful to all of them. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Williams family in their time of need and asks that you remember them in your thoughts and prayers through the days ahead.