To the family and friends of Brenda Williams always cherish the fond memories of time spent together and although you may grieve the Bible can be a source of comfort. At (Revelation 21:3,4) it speaks of a time when there will be no more sickness or death, also at (Acts 24:15) it speaks of a resurrection that we all can look forward to. May the peace and love of the God of all comfort be with you all. Comfort can be found in our Creator through prayer and through his word the Bible and in our Savior Jesus Christ.

I've been blessed by Brenda and the whole Williams family since first meeting them 55 years ago when my parents bought and moved us Raikes kids into a home 4 houses east of them on 15th St.

Brenda was 3 years younger than me, and her siblings were 4-10 years older than her. Most of the kids on the block were older than Brenda too, but she was very feisty and played hard to compete with all of us in "Kick the Can", Hide & Seek, Tag, etc. every summer evening in front of William's home under the street lamp light. She never let her physical challenges or being younger keep her from competing equally with the rest of us in those evenings. She was the same way during the summer days when dozens played games at the Leonard Park shelter house.

I've always been impressed and appreciative of Gloria (and Harry) for treating myself and all the kids on 15th Street like their own. And, as if raising 5 kids of their own, and corraling several more neighborhood kids wasn't enough, they foster parented over 200 babies during that same 15-20 year timeframe. Along with Grandmother, the Williams family were the first people that helped me understand the importance of serving others less fortunate than themselves.

Lord, thank you for Brenda Williams and the courageous life she led. Thank you for the blessing that Christopher is and has been to Brenda and Gloria. God, please bring Your peace and comfort to Gloria, Christopher and the whole family as they mourn in the short term, and then help them all to celebrate Brenda's life. Amen.

Gary Raikes