Mildred Williams, the daughter of the late Elmer and Bessie Purcell Sanders, was born in Grayridge on June 26, 1935, and died at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter on Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, at the age of 68.

Mrs. Williams had lived in Essex most of her life.

On June 28, 1953, she was married to Billy J. Williams in Piggott, Ark.

Surviving are her husband, Billy J. Williams of Essex; two sons, Ernie Williams and Danny Williams, both of Essex; three daughters, Wilma Gordon of Essex, Billie June Wethington of Bloomfield, and Paula Williams of Kingsport, Tenn.; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four brothers, Junior Sanders, Roy Sanders, Doyle Sanders, and Donnie Sanders, all of Essex; and one sister, Geraldine Duncan of Essex.

Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with the Rev. Dennis Ward of Essex officiating.

Interment followed in the Essex Cemetery with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.