LaVerna Williams

Mrs. LaVerna E. Williams, 97, of Chillicothe, MO passed away May 27, 2021, at The Baptist Home in Chillicothe, MO.  LaVerna was born in Carrollton, MO on January 2, 1924 to parents Calvin Douglas Sr. and Elvenia Carter Douglas. She was a graduate of Dalton High School. She then moved to Minneapolis where she worked for Honeywell for 18 years. While with them and through them, she worked for NASA on Automatic Pilot technology.  In Kansas City, she also worked for the Bendix Company.  On March 17, 1973, LaVerna married James ‘Lester’ Williams in Carrollton, MO and moved to Chillicothe MO. She soon started a career at Walmart in Chillicothe, ultimately promoted to Department Manager, where she retired in 1984.

LaVerna loved to help others and was a member of many organizations including National Colored Women’s Clubs, American Legion Auxiliary, Hedrick Medical Center Auxiliary, RSVP, Progressive Arts & Study Club, Friends of the Library, Prison PATCH Boards, Church Women United, Red Hats Society, YMCA Widowed Support Group, NAACP, Dorcus Missions of the Church. She was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church serving as a Deaconess and church clerk.

LaVerna loved to travel and enjoyed many trips across the globe including: Africa, Hawaii, Canada, Australia, Egypt, England, Paris, France, London, Ireland, Germany, Alaska, China and most of the United States.

LaVerna is survived by her sister, Ruth Shaw of Chillicothe, MO; grandchildren, Shari Frazier of Lee’s Summit, MO; Dawn Williams of Laurel, MD; LaTonya Williams of Cotton Plant, AR; Leslie Williams of Kansas City, MO, Marc Smith of Lee’s Summit, MO; 7 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; daughters-in-law, Linda Williams of Kansas City, MO; Wanda Williams of Kansas City, MO; and close friend Rosaline Williams.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James ‘Lester’ Williams; parents, Calvin and Elvenia Douglas; brothers, Calvin Douglas Jr.; Versailles Douglas; and, son, Don Lester Williams.

Memorials in honor of Laverna Williams may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church or Prison PATCH.

They may be mailed to or left at Heritage Funeral Home, 3141 N. Washington, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Online condolences may be left at www.heritage-becausewecare.com

Visitation will be held Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm followed by A Celebration of Life commencing at 12 pm at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Chillicothe, MO.

Internment to immediately follow at Carroll Memory Gardens in Carrollton, MO.