Anna Yvonne Spell Williams' Obituary
Anna Yvonne Spell Williams passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2022. She was a loving
wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, who loved her family with all her
heart. Yvonne was born May 11, 1936 in Sampson County, North Carolina to Bearnie and
Lollie Spell. She grew up on a small farm. In 1949 when the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints missionaries came teaching she was the first in her family to be
baptized. She was always strong in the Church and directed the music for many wards.
She always loved music and sang solos at many weddings and receptions. She won a
talent contest in her Stake for singing “Climb Every Mountain.”
She graduated from Salemburg High School and attended Brigham Young University for
two years. She had several roommates who have kept in touch for many years. While
attending BYU she was in a choir that sang in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle twice for
General Conference. She also signed up to be a member of the Hill Cumorah Pageant and
spent two wonderful weeks practicing the Pageant in Palmyra, NY. She participated in a
mixed octet of missionaries and young women who sang several places and were on
television in Rochester, New York.
Yvonne returned home and started working with Civil Service. She worked mainly for the
United States Air Force for 34 years and retired at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina.
She received many awards and accolades for her work at Pope AFB. In October 1985 she
received the highest award from Military Airlift Command Headquarters as the MAC
Civilian of the Year.
She met John M. Williams, a native of Ohio who was in the Army at Fort Bragg, NC. On
November 25, 1961 they were married in the Fayetteville Branch. In April 1963 they were
sealed in the Los Angeles Temple while Yvonne’s brother, Cecil, was on his mission
there. They were married for 60 years. May 9, 1966 brought into the Williams family a
beautiful baby boy, who was named after his father but they called him Johnny. Johnny
was the joy of their lives and they are so proud of him and his family now. Yvonne's
mother and father were a great influence in Johnny's life. They lived next to them for
seven years.
They purchased a home in Stedman, 8 miles from Fayetteville, NC. Both of them loved to
travel. They went many different places; Egypt, where John’s brother worked, Alaska,
Hawaii, several cruises, and especially Branson, Missouri. Yvonne also went to London
with her sister-in-law JoAnn Spell and her daughters.
Yvonne retired from Civil Service in 1993. In August 1999 they sold their house in North
Carolina in two days and moved Yvonne to a house they bought in Spanish Fork. John
rented an apartment and stayed in Fayetteville until his retirement on September 1, 2000
from the North Carolina Department of Correction.
Yvonne enjoyed living in Utah closer to her Ward and closer to the Temples. She made
many friends and treasures their friendship. She didn’t like the winter snows and the cold
but she eventually learned to live with it. She still called North Carolina home.
She is survived by her husband, John M. Williams, their son, Johnny Williams (Becky).
grandchildren Anthony (Missy), Christina Stephenson (Blake), Sean, four
great grandchildren, and her brother Cecil Spell (JoAnn).
Yvonne was a gentle, quiet Southern lady who loved her family and her many friends.
She will be deeply missed by all.
What’s your fondest memory of Anna?
What’s a lesson you learned from Anna?
Share a story where Anna's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Anna you’ll never forget.
How did Anna make you smile?
