MADISON - Mrs. Wanda Juanita “Nita” Williams was born on Aug. 11, 1930, to Dudley Warwick and Goldie Belle Proctor in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

When Juanita was 2 years old, her family relocated to Chicago, Ill., where she attended school and spent the majority of her life. She was the middle child of five siblings: Frances, Evelyn, and Richard, (all preceded her in death) and Joyce who survives her. She loved being an older sister, a role she fulfilled with honor. She was an inquisitive child and loved reading, roller skating, swimming and ice skating (she dreamed of becoming the next Sonja Henie). Her passion for reading stayed with her throughout her life and one of her favorite pastimes was to sit outdoors and read her Bible.

Juanita received Christ in her life at an early age and held true to the Seventh Day Adventist Christian denomination. As an adult she attended the Madison Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church with Pastor Richard Moore.

In 1948 Juanita met the love of her life, Atherdore Williams Sr. They were joined in holy matrimony on Oct. 4, 1954. They shared a beautiful life together full of unconditional love and to this union a total of nine children were born: Roger, Terry, James, Goldie, Atherdore Jr., Clyde, Bessie, Evelyn, and Dorenita. They remained married until Atherdore’s death on July 28, 1984. She was a devoted wife and mother and would often reminisce about her late husband while providing words of marital wisdom to those seeking counsel.

In 1994 Juanita relocated to Sun Prairie, Wis., where she spent most of her time enjoying family relationships and sharing her love for “silver screen” movies and musicals with everyone she knew. She enjoyed being with family and often stated how blessed she was to share homes with two of her daughters, Evelyn and Dorenita, respectively. When not at home helping or serving others, Juanita enjoyed traveling and casino gaming. Her dream was to hit a jackpot and give all of her family a financial blessing.

As an avid traveler, she would look forward to the next destination. This was especially true when she traveled to Canada to meet extended family. She would recall over the years the beauty of the country and the cousins who treated her like royalty.

Juanita relocated one last time in 2018 to Lebanon, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville where she lived with her eldest daughter, Goldie, and her son-in-law, Lou. Here, she was able to take advantage of the milder climate and to enjoy the Music City sound as she was a lifelong country music fan. Highlights of her life in Tennessee included visits to Graceland, Dollywood, The Fontanel (Barbara Mandrell’s home), Beale Street in Memphis, and Tunica. One of her fondest memories was a night at the Ryman Auditorium where she saw Roseanne Cash perform songs of Patsy Cline, her favorite country singer!

Juanita loved the warm climate and people of the south and would spend months at a time in Savannah, Ga., visiting her granddaughter, Brandi, her husband, Derrick, and their family. They would travel throughout the south, including several cities in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Florida. Here she would connect with extended family and friends who also loved her dearly. She was affectionately known as “Grandma Nita” to everyone she met.

She loved to celebrate with her family. As the wife and mother of enlisted military personnel, she was a true patriot and looked forward to July 4th festivities. She also enjoyed celebrating Christmas and making sure it was special for everyone, but particularly her children. Daughter, Bessie, recalled how “Mom really made the holiday magical. We really thought there was a Santa and some of us really believed that we saw reindeer flying.” In addition to these celebrations, Juanita’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. It gave her the opportunity to be surrounded by loved ones, and share delicious meals with warm memories.

Juanita loved musicals, singing, reading, enjoying good food, different genres of music, trivia, traveling, puzzles, going to the casino, and just “having fun!” She enjoyed going on evening walks and reminiscing over her many life experiences. She even started doing Zumba in her late 80s and served as a source of inspiration and encouragement for others in the fitness class.

As her health declined she often spoke of how blessed she was to be surrounded by family to care for her. Her daughter, Goldie, and son-in-law, Lou, were her primary caregivers, joined by daughters, Dorenita, Bessie, and Evelyn, who would also share in her loving care.

She was in hospice care for six months and was thankful to have the wonderful staff of Amedysis Hospice Care (Nurse Kelly and Chaplain Saul as well as others) visit her and offer prayers and comforting support to her throughout this timeframe.

A true star of the “Silver Screen” in our midst, Juanita leaves to mourn her a multitude of family and fans. She is survived by her sister, Joyce; children, James, Goldie, Athedore Jr., Clyde, Bessie, Evelyn and Dorenita (both Roger and Terry preceded her in death); 31 grandchildren (1 preceded her in death); 86 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to whom she considered part of her family.

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

Juanita transitioned into a new life with Jesus on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.

She was the light in anyone’s life that she met, and her brilliant and strong legacy will live on forever.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Wanda Juanita " Nita" Williams

August 11, 1930 - November 19, 2023

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