Viola Williams

Mrs. Viola C. “Big Mama” Irby Williams, 91, of Greenville, South Carolina, departed this life on Monday, November 21, 2016, at home. Born in Greenville, she was a daughter of the late Ruben Campbell and Christin Pepper Campbell.

She was educated in the Greenville County School System. She retired from St. Francis Hospital after forty-seven years of service and later retired from Greenville General Hospital.

She joined the Long Branch Baptist Church in 1944, she was a member of the Senior Choir, Missionaries and the Golden Jewels. She was also a member of the Senior Citizens Mind Class.

She was preceded in death by a son, Johnny Lee Campbell; two daughters, Barbara Joyce Irby and Blanche Johnson; a brother, Willie Henry Campbell; two grandsons, Reggie Irby and Gerald Blakely and three nephews, Deroy Massey, Steve Campbell and Willie Campbell, Jr.

Left to treasure many fond memories are her four daughters, Julia Mae Irby of the home, Annie Vernell Johnson, Vilora Blakley and Rose Alice (Henry) Russell, all of Greenville; three sons, Fred Irby of the home, Rev. Iallus (Teresa) Irby, Jr., of Boiling Springs and Henry Irby of the home; three sisters, Carrie Lee (Isaiah) Kinsley of Cincinnati, OH, Hattie Massey and Alice Johnson, both of Greenville; thirty-eight grandchildren; forty-seven great-grand-children; forty-three great-great- grand-children; ten great-great-great-grand-children and a host of other relatives and friends.