Alice "Tootsie" Birdwell Williams

Mrs. Alice Clayton “Tootsie” Williams was born in Yuma on October 21, 1919, to Millard Clayton and Opal Blount Birdwell.  She grew up in Yuma attending local schools and graduating from high school in Clarksburg.  She married James Harold Gooch of Yuma, and they had one daughter, Alice Carolyn, who survives.  Harold died in 1948.   Tootsie and Alice Carolyn shared a home with her Mother in Yuma until she married Dallas Williams of Huntingdon.  They had one son, Billy, who also survives.

            Tootsie was a long-time employee of Publix Shirt Corporation.  She was always the life of the party.  Her outgoing personality and having never met a stranger resulted in her having a wide range of friends.  First Baptist Church in Huntingdon was a significant part of Tootsie’s life.  Her faithful support and attendance along with many years of working in the Nursery endeared her to many FBC families.  Tootsie was a superb Canasta player, and she spent many happy hours during retirement at card parties in competition with Viva Dee Bolen, Billy Murphy, Estelle Todd, Wayne Tubbs, and her Mother, Opal.  She celebrated her 100^th birthday last year with a big party at Harmony Hill where she had resided for the past few years.

            She is survived by her children Alice Carolyn Newton of Memphis and Billy Williams of Huntingdon, her granddaughter Kate Stables of Cornelius, NC, great grandchildren Elliott Stables, Frances Stables, and Jack Newton, niece Sandra Birdwell Bonds of Nashville, and nephews Bob and Judge John Everett Williams of Huntingdon.   She was predeceased by her parents, her husbands Harold Gooch and Dallas Williams, her grandson Henry Newton, and her brother Lloyd Wayne “Bill” Birdwell and sister-in-law Addie Pearl Birdwell.

            In light of the COVID-19 virus and oppressive heat, the family has requested only private  services be conducted by Dilday-Carter Funeral Home.

Dilday-Carter Funeral Home in charge of arrangements 731-986-8281.

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