Southeast Texas Medical Associates, LLP James L. Holly, M.D. Southeast Texas Medical Associates, LLP


Your Life Your Health - Mrs. Dorothy Williams in Celebration of Her 100th Birthday
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James L. Holly,M.D.
March 08, 2018
Your Life Your Health - The Examiner

Celebrations are the way we mark milestones and achievements; they are also how we invest value in those whose lives have given significance to our lives. 

On March 15, 2018, Mrs. Dorothy Williams’ family will celebrate the 100th birthday of this remarkable lady.  In this article, we will tell Mrs. Williams’ story but as we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words.  Her portrait tells us a great deal about this lovely lady.  Her countenance and smile are welcoming and they tell us how blessed her family is to have known and been nurtured by Mrs. Williams.

As we pause for a moment to welcome Mrs. Williams into our hearts and minds, we are not surprised to find that her family and friends have always affectionately called her “Dear.”  There is no doubt in our minds that this name perfectly described this “dear” lady.   Her full name is Dorothy Mae Graze Williams.    Mrs. Williams was married to Mr. Roy Edward Jones from 1937 to 1961.  “Dear” was married to Mr. Emanuel Williams from 1963 until his death in 2000. 

Southeast Texas Medical Associates, LLP delightfully joins in this celebration because Mrs. Williams has been a part of our family for almost twenty years.   Her physician has been Dr. Syed Imtiaz Anwar, a partner at SETMA where he serves as Medical Director and a member of the Medical Executive Committee. 

Mrs. Williams was born at a time and place where child birth was a family occasion and not a medical condition. She was born at home to Mr. Johnnie Clifton and Mrs. Chauncy Earle Hightower Graze on Simmons Street on March 15, 1918.  She grew up in Beaumont on Evans Street across from Anthony Cemetery.

“Dear” (“May we call you that?”), was the fourth born of eight children.  She is the mother of five children, one of whom is deceased.  She has eight granddaughters, 18 great grandchildren and ten great great grandchildren with another expected in May, 2018.  Can you envision a gathering of this family to celebrate the heritage of “Dear,” and to express thanksgiving for the blessing she has been and is to each member of the family. 

In 1934, “Dear” graduated from Hebert High School.   That fact will mean little to many young people but those of us who lived through the 1940s and had parents who were contemporaries of Mrs. Williams know what an achievement that was at the height of the Great Depression.  It is a credit to “Dear” and to her parents that she completed her education at a time when high school attendance was low and graduation for all students was very low.  What a remarkable family.

“Dear” is a Christian and a member of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church at 855 Sherman Street in Beaumont.  She is the oldest and longest, actively serving member of the church having been a member for over 65 years.   Mrs. Williams is the Second Secretary of the Missionary Society, member of the senior Sunday School class, Chair of the Benevolent committee, member of the choir and former chair of the Deaconess Board.

Mrs. Williams loves to crochet (making slippers, afghans, tablecloths and clothing) and to sew.  She used to make most of her own clothes, suits, robes and pajamas for her husband; and clothes for her children, and granddaughters.  In her lifetime the cycle of homemade clothes to store-bought clothes has returned to the high value placed on hand-made garments.

It is not surprising that “Dear” loved and collect dolls.  When she was a child, her parents could not afford to buy dolls so she always said that when she grew up she would have a doll collection.  She now has 62 dolls.  Not surprisingly she has made clothes for them and enjoys showing her collection to guests in her home.

‘Dear” also collects magnets and has over 600 of them. Four times a year, she takes all of them off her refrigerator and freezer and cleans them. Then, she has fun rearranging them as she puts them back in place.

But all of this pales in the face of Mrs. Williams’ true passion which is her love of the Lord Jesus Christ.  She starts her day by studying the Bible and reading her devotional.  She loves to walk and until recently got up every morning and walked sixteen blocks every Monday through Friday, just as the sun was rising.  She still walks up and down in her front or back yard to get exercise.

Mrs. Williams’ intellectual curiosity has led to a lifetime learning habit and she loves to keep up with current events.  She watches CNN daily and enjoys the legal shows, favorite being Judge Judy.

“Dear” loves to sing and is still a member of her Church choir.   She loves to recite poetry and has been asked to speak at her Church and high school class reunions on many occasions. She has often commented, “Everybody gets a kick out it and so do I.”

Mrs. Williams loves to study “Our Daily Bread” devotionals.  She loves spiritual music and the hymns of the church. Some of her favorite hymns are: The Old Ship of Zion, The Old Rugged Cross, Blessed Assurance, and Victory in Jesus.

A celebration of Ms. Dorothy Williams’ birthday will take place at SETMA’s College Street Clinic on March 22, 2018 at 12:30 – 2:00 PM.  Dr. Anwar, his staff and all of SETMA are honored to have the opportunity to participate in this remarkable lady’s special occasion.  Our lives have been enriched by Mrs. Williams and we are grateful for her family allowing us to be a part of her “big day.”

Without doubt, Mrs. Williams is worthy of the words of Proverbs 31:27-29:  “She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:  Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”  And so today, as we celebrate her life, we bless her with this judgment of Solomon.