Irene Williams

Irene Williams

April 20, 1933 – January 11, 2024

Homegoing Celebration will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024.

• VISITATION: 9:00 a.m. followed by the SERVICE  at 10:00 a.m. at New Hope Apostolic Temple, 6124 N. 99^th Street, Omaha, NE 68134.
• INTERMENT: Forest Lawn Cemetery.
• Repast to follow at Emmanuel Fellowship Church, 8345 Crown Point Ave., Omaha, NE 68134.

To view a live broadcast of the Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.

__________________________________________________

Irene was born on April 20, 1933, to parents, Etheridge and Nancy Turner, in Shuqulak, Mississippi, in Noxubee County.  She transitioned to glory in her home in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 11, 2024, at 90 years young.

Irene moved to Omaha at the age of 12 where she remained and raised her family.  She was baptized in the name of Jesus and received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost under Bishop James Phillip Foster at Greater Bethlehem Temple.  She later served under his son, Bishop Lance R. Foster, at New Hope Apostolic Temple.

Irene retired from Omaha Public Schools as a cook after sharing her passion for food and filling children’s tummies for over 20 years.  She also loved to travel.  Her daughter, Margaret, recounts one especially memorable trip with her mother camping in the mountains in Canada in their tents and sleeping bags.

Known by many as Sweet Rene, Big Mama, The OG, or “The Bugga with the Shugga,” anyone who knew Irene knew that she was quite the jokester.  She loved making funny faces and telling jokes with her family.  As much as she loved to have fun and joke around; she was serious about 2 things: her family and her God.

Irene joined the Glory Tabernacle in Bellevue, Nebraska, in 2014, under the leadership of District Elder Clifton and Lady Brandi Hobbs, where she served faithfully until she went on to rest with her Lord.  She loved her church family and was affectionately known as “The OG of the GT” along with her daughter, Margaret.

Irene was preceded in death by her father, Etheridge Turner; her mother, Nancy Langford Turner; siblings, Willie M. Turner and Lorain Reed; children, Minister Howard Lee King, Cecelia King and Gloria Bonton; granddaughter, Denise Michelle Washington; and spouses, David Gay, Clarence King and Willie Williams.

She is lovingly survived by children, Margaret A. Gay Nelson and Cedric Jerome King; along with a host of grandchildren, great- grandchildren, great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins; and her very close friend, Valerie Deloach.