Edwena (Ed) Williams Higginbotham, 80, of Warner Robins GA, passed away on Thursday, April 8, 2021 in Georgia.  She was born on August 1, 1940 in Center, Texas to Clark Paul Williams Sr. and Emma Irene Fancher Williams.  Graveside services will be held at 2 PM on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at White Rock Cemetery, Center, Texas with Bro. Son Windham officiating. 

 

Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1 PM at White Rock Cemetery, Center, Texas.

 

Being raised in Grigsby with a large family of mischievous sisters and brothers, a circle of togetherness and love was formed that will never be broken.  Her sister, Venorah always loved to tell stories about how mean she could be to Edwena because Ed was “soft”.  Of course that merely meant that Ed was kind.  Venorah tells of Big Moma, their grandmother, telling their dad, Dr. Bill about Ed and Venorah’s fighting.  She would say, “Dr. Bill, did you hear about the girls fighting in Grigsby today?”  Of course, he would play right along with Big Moma.  He said, “No, I didn’t hear about it.”  She would continue, “Well these girls were fighting with butcher knives, and an old lady had to come out of the house and separate them!”  Funny Funny!  Thank goodness these episodes never escalated into a brawl.  It was just for fun so Venorah says now!  Aunt Ed always said Venorah was the meanest thing around.  Another one of her siblings, Clark Paul, had this to say when asked what his first thought was of Edwena.  He said, “This is going to sound crazy but biscuits and gravy.”  Everybody makes biscuits and gravy but none ever as good as Ed’s.  All the way to Georgia, I would be waiting to get my mouth on her hot biscuits and gravy.  Edwena didn’t disappoint either.  She would say, “well I got to make biscuits and gravy now because Clark is here.”  Edwena was always known as the “cook” while everyone else was in the fields working the crops.  She didn’t like to work outside much but instead through the years learned to cook wonderfully.        

 

After graduation, Edwina married and lived a military life that took her overseas where she spent many years in the Philippine Islands and eventually brought her back to the States where they settled in Warner Robins, Georgia.  As soon as her family settled in Georgia, Ed continued her education and earned her career job as Vice President of C & S Bank.  Edwena quickly gained the respect of her employers and was known as exemplifying perfection in her work ethics.  Once retiring from C&S Bank, Edwena could not be satisfied and wanted to work longer.  She became employed by a private airline and quickly moved into a managerial position with them.  Edwena was known as a “people person” and loved to talk and learn of their travels.  She loved the airline job and stayed there as long as her health allowed.   Through the years, Ed was involved with the “Red Hat Society or Breakfast Club” as they called it.  She loved the fellowship of being with other people.    

 

Paul, her grand kids and great grand kids were the light of Edwena’s eye.  Edwena loved her family and extended that love to others that were not blood kin but in her eyes-they were.  One such person was B.J. Brantly.  She considered him to be a grandson because she helped take care of him from birth.  Ed always talked of him when she was in Texas just as she did her grand kids.  Ed also loved her neighborhood and neighbors.  Her neighbor, James Paul, helped Ed with many chores so she would bless him with her good home cooking.  James especially liked her pinto beans.  She was someone that would give you the shirt off of her back if possible. 

 

Edwena was a Texas girl at heart and would always come home to Texas every chance she could squeeze in the time to go.  She loved bringing her grand kids to Texas hoping to develop the same love and admiration for her childhood home and family.   She loved Texas memorabilia and wanted all her friends to know that she would someday return to Texas. 

 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Van Buren Higginbotham; her parents, Clark Paul and Emma Irene Williams Sr.; brother, Thomas Williams; sister, Carolyn Caldwell; brother in law, J. C. McSwain; brother in law, Jack Berg; and brother in law, Dallas Caldwell; and sister in law, Norie Williams.

 

Edwena is survived by her son, Paul Higginbotham (Diana), Grandchildren - Amy Marie Zmak (Justin) from Arizona, Jo Lynn Cathcart (Alex) from Rome,GA, Samantha Higginbotham, Shannon Ray (Shane) from Warner Robins, Ga, and Scott Carlson from Wisconsin. She is also survived by her sister Shirley Faye Berg, Venorah McSwain and brother Clark Paul Williams Jr. and wife, Tina all from Center Texas; and 6 great grandchildren.

 

Please visit www.mangumfh.net to sign the online guestbook.

Mangum Funeral Home, Center, is in charge of arrangements.