Brookdale Crown Point resident Marguerite Williamson is preparing to celebrate her 102nd birthday on May 20. Williamson is well known for her kind heart and love for her family. Two of her sons, Darrell and Donald, shared that if you asked her for $10, she would give it to you, even if it was her last bill.
One of five children, Williamson was born in Vienna, Georgia, and moved to Jacksonville later in her childhood. She spent summers in her youth with her cousin, Jeanette, in Wildwood Florida. She would sit and play cards with Jeanette, who had a mobility impairment. Williamson loved visiting her grandmother’s house where she enjoyed cooking and family dinners. Her first job was working as a cashier at a dress shop called Kress.
Williamson met her husband, Walter Archibald Williamson, through her childhood best friend, Hazel. When asked what her best marriage advice is, she said it’s important to be faithful and always tell the truth. They were married for 62 years until his passing in 2014. They had seven children together: Melvin, Jane, Nancy, Gerald, Darrell, Donald and Walter. Raising them was one of the greatest joys in Williamson’s life.
When asked what raising seven children was like, she said, “They kept you busy.” When her youngest son, Walter, started school, Williamson went to work at Sunbeam Bakery, which was a retail bread store. She later worked for the Duval County school board in the cafeteria.
Williamson has always loved spending time with her children, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also deeply committed to her faith and was very involved at St. Nicholas Park Christian Church. She helped with prayer nights, went to the women’s groups and sang in the choir. She raised her children in the church, and her faith has always been central to her life. One of her favorite places to visit is Tuxedo, North Carolina, where she and her husband would spend their summers in the mountains.
Williamson is known as a great cook and especially excels in Southern comfort food. She famously made fried chicken, pot roasts and meat loafs. Some of her favorite foods include homemade banana pudding, mashed potatoes, rice and beans. Her sons, Darrell and Donald, attribute her longevity to her love of coffee, which she was always sure to drink first thing in the morning.
Williamson advises young women to “always look pretty,” and if she could tell her younger self something, it would be to not pass up opportunities in life.
Williamson has seen a lot of conflict and change throughout her life, having lived through the Great Depression, WWII and the Vietnam War. Gender roles have evolved and society as a whole is vastly different. However, Williamson has remained steadfast in her kindness toward others and love for her family. Her legacy of faith and love is truly one to celebrate.
