Lula Yeargin Williams

Mrs. Lula Mae “Lou” Yeargin Williams was born to the late Lester F. and Willie Mae Griffin Yeargin, on May 8, 1944. She was educated in the Greenville County Schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961. She went on to Benedict College and graduated in 1965.

Lou taught in the Greenville County School System for thirty-one years. She also worked at the West Greenville Community Center After School Program doing what she loved most of all, working with children. There are many that are here today, whose lives she touched in some way.

At an early age , she joined Calvary Baptist Church in Greer, South Carolina. Later in life, she became affiliated with the Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was President of the Pastor’s Aide for many years and sang in the choir. She dearly loved her pastor, Rev. King.

Lou joined the Order of Eastern Star in September of 1993, with the Parks Chapter #600 in Greenville; while there she served in various appointed and elected offices. Later, she served for four years as Worthy Matron of the Star of the South Chapter #6. Her commitment was not limited to the local chapter, she served as Grand Esther for Beauty Grand Chapter Auxiliary of Palmetto Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Ancient York Rite Masons Prince Hall Origin, National Compact, U.S.A. Heroine Williams also served as Most Ancient Matron of Mountain City #465, Heroines of Jerico.

When Lou became ill, her former husband, Doug Williams, became her caregiver; he took her to all her appointments. Whatever her need, he was there for her. Alongside Doug, was her beloved godchild, Lesslee “Peaches” Jackson, whom she affectionately called, “Nunu”.

Lou received many awards and acknowledgements . She was inducted into the Piedmont Athletic Association Hall of Fame (PAA) in 2002. She was Benedict’s Alumni Local Association Queen. She worked hard and diligently to be the best at whatever she was doing.

She was the one to go to for whatever you needed. Lou was a perfectionist; it had to be done right. If she had her hands on it, she knew it would reflect back on her and she wanted it right.

She was a lifetime member of the NAACP, life member of the South Carolina Education Association, the National Education Association, a Notary for the State of South Carolina, Urban League Guild Chairperson, president of the South Carolina Department of Elementary Teachers, and a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Stars.

She did it her way or no way at all, because her way was the right way. She will be missed by many. Lou never met a stranger.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents, Parasade M. Yeargin, Rufus Yeargin, Rachel L. Griffin and Reese Griffin, Sr.

Left to cherish many fond and loving memories are one sister, Parasade Mayfield of Greenville; two brothers, Lester W. Yeargin of Columbia and Edward R. Yeargin of Greenville; four aunts, Marie Griffin of Brooklyn, NY, Bessie Griffin and Sarah Griffin, both of Greenville, SC and Mary Helen Griffin of Greer, SC; one uncle, Reese Griffin, Jr., of Greer, SC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.