Obituary – Jerlean “Geraldine” Williams

ROCK BLUFF,  FL – Jerlean “Geraldine” Williams went to be with the Lord in the comfort of her home and surrounded by loved ones on May 28, 2024 at age 90.

On a spring April morning in 1934 in rural Bristol, FL she was welcomed as the third daughter born to the late Charles “Charlie” and Orie (McGlockton) Berrieum.

She grew up in Rock Bluff. She delighted in her childhood, playing outdoors and being surrounded by the warmth of love from her parents. She was educated at Roy Elementary and Middle school, then attended Lincoln High School in Tallahassee. She was a lifelong member of the family church, Bethel A.M.E.

In 1960, she married Charlie Williams from Estiffanulga, another part of Liberty County. Together, there were 10 children.

With a wonderful green thumb, she grew many plants and flowers. With a love for fishing, she could stay on the fish creek all day with her sons. With a care for animals, she kept and fed many. Her cats were her ‘babies.’

Jerlean was devoted to her family and was able to live long enough to see her great-great-grandchildren. Everyone loved her warm, baked banana pudding with the perfect meringue top. She hardly ever missed a family reunion and excitedly looked forward to attending every year. She loved going into the woods with her late sister Girtha, chatting with her late sister Alice, and taking trips to Orlando to spend time with sister Rachel.

With over 70 descendants, she was more than the work she did and the care she gave; she was and is the world to her family and a true matriarch.

She leaves to cherish her memories: Daughters: Sandra Brown of Panama City Beach, Jacqueline Williams (Anthony) of Bristol and Darlene Clemons of Hartford, CT;  Sons: Theryl Reginald Brown, Dwayne Williams (Marquita Bobretta), Charlie Jeromy Williams (Cassandra), all of  Bristol; Sylvester Williams (Angie) of Clarksville, TN and close cousin: Jean Black; Her siblings: Margaree Elkins of  Tallahassee, Rachel Bryan of Orlando and Sonnie Berrieum (Corrine) of  Bristol.  Her 27 grandchildren included Ebony, Travaras (Kip), Carmen (Monte), Chivas (Dallas), Tiffya, Ashley B., Anastasia, Brittany, Joshua, Louis, Anthony Jr., Ashley W. , Nastasia, TJ, Calvin, Alisha, Ashanti, Zachary, Fitzgerald (Alicia), Frankie, Lisa, Tane’Ja, Theryl and Malik. She also had 32 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Williams, Sr.; sons: infant Calvin Brown, Charlie Williams Jr., and Frankie D. Williams; grandchildren: Trenton Williams, Erica McKinney, and Sylvester Rashad Williams; parents: Charles and Orie Berrieum; siblings: Joseph Berrian, Charles Berrian, Gertrude (Girtha) Berrieum, and Alice B. Lewis.

A viewing will be held Friday, June 7 from  4-6 p.m. EST, Bethel AME Church, 4608 Bethel Road in Bristol.

Services will be held Saturday, June 8  at  11 a.m. CST/12 p.m. EST, at  St. Paul AME Church, located at 16076 SE River Street in  Blountstown.

The committal will be held immediately following service at Bethel AME.

Services have been entrusted to Reed & Hall Mortuary in Quincy.