Mary Griggs Williamson

Mary Griggs Williamson, 90, of Clayton, Georgia, died April 29, 2018.

Mary was born October 27, 1927, in Macon, Georgia, the daughter of the late Joseph Hilliard Griggs and Thelma Batton Griggs. In 1946, she married Carey King Williamson, Jr. and they raised three children together. Mary found great joy and meaning in guiding her children through their formative years and considered motherhood her most important and prized role. Mary, devoting her early life to her children, did not attend college, however, she found she had an endless curiosity and became an avid and voracious reader, educating herself on all subjects. Mary also successfully completed EFM – Education for Ministry, a four year program offered through Sewanee, The School Of Theology.

As a child, Mary grew up watching the women of her family create beautiful things with their hands. She worked as a seamstress and dressmaker. She quilted, cross-stitched, knitted and worked with needlepoint, but once she discovered rug hooking she found her passion. Mary and her husband retired to Clayton, GA in 1983 and rug hooking became a big part of her life. She attended teacher’s workshops and became a McGown-certified teacher, teaching rug hooking schools and seminars all over the world, as well as opening her home to the Happy Hookers of Rabun County continuing the tradition of teaching the local women to rug hook. Mary believed that rug hooking created beauty as well as lasting friendships, and indeed, Mary touched all who she encountered with her intelligent beauty and authentic kindness.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Carey King Williamson, Jr. and a brother, Daniel Ray Griggs.

She is survived by her brother, Joseph Hilliard Griggs, Jr. of Dallas, TX; son, Carey King Williamson III of Georgetown, SC; daughters Catherine Irene Williamson of Clayton, GA and Mary Louise Williamson of Silver Spring, MD; four grandchildren, Tracy L. Williamson, Patrick S. Marks, Chris R. Williamson and Georgia W. Bixler; four great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

The family will have a memorial service 11:00 am, Friday, May 4, 2018 at St. James Episcopal Church with Reverend Mary R. H. Dimmler officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to St. James Outreach, P.O. Box 69 Clayton, GA 30525: In Memory of Mrs. Mary Griggs Williamson.

Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, Georgia, is in charge of the arrangements. If there are any questions, please call 706-782-9599. An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com.

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