Christine B. Williams, 75, passed away of heart failure May 13, 2013, at Methodist Hospital in Memphis. She was a retired educator for Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, where she served for 49 years.

Funeral services were held Friday, May 17, 2013 at MVSU Auditorium at 1 p.m. and Saturday, May 18, 2013 at St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church in Picayune. The Rev. Michael Kelly will officiate at the Picayune service and burial will be in Picayune Baylous Cemetery in Picayune, Miss.

Christine was a member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, and she was a charter member of Kappa Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. An Ivy Beyond the Wall ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. along with visitation in the MVSU auditorium with funeral services starting at 1 p.m. There will be no viewing after the eulogy. The Rev. Glenell Pruitt will officiate. Members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., will serve as pallbearers.

Survivors include: a daughter, Pamela Williams-Edwards of Memphis; a son, Earnest T. Williams Jr., of Akron, Ohio; sisters, Mary Richardson of Picayune, Miss., and Audrey Magee, Maywood, Ill.; brothers, Robert Bender and James Bender, both of Picayune; and 4 grandchildren.

Serves are entrusted to Sanders & Sanders Funeral Home in Greenwood, Miss.