Lois McClellan Williams passed away peacefully on May 20, 2026, following a long illness. A faithful servant of God, loving matriarch and devoted educator, she leaves behind a rich legacy of love, learning, and family. Born in Branchland, West Virginia, in January 1937, Lois moved with her four siblings to Florida in 1952. After graduating from high school in Waldo, Florida, she began her studies at the University of Florida. It was during this time that her friend, Shirley (Williams) Toney, introduced Lois to her brother, fresh home from serving in the Korean War. Charles R. (“Bob”) Williams and Lois were married on May 4, 1956, marking the beginning of a beautiful, rare, and inspiring 70-year marriage.
Lois and Bob quickly blessed their home with three children: Deena, Sandy, and Carl. While having three children under the age of four, Lois demonstrated her trademark determination by commuting between Jacksonville and Gainesville to complete her bachelor’s degree. She later earned her master’s degree in education. The family relocated to Leesburg, Florida, in the late 1960s, where Lois dedicated 28 years in the Lake County Public Schools, spending the majority of her career teaching kindergarten.
Lois was a devout Christian whose faith was the cornerstone of her life, and she was a deeply involved church member, most recently serving and worshiping at the South Campus of First Baptist Leesburg. An exceptionally talented seamstress, Lois loved the challenge of a complex project and kept a collection of advanced sewing machines ready for any task. She was also a passionate, lifelong fan of University of Florida sports, enthusiastically cheering on the Gators football and basketball teams for decades. Above all, her love for teaching and children lived on through her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lois was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Deena W. Newman, in 2023. She is survived by her devoted husband, Charles R. “Bob” Williams; her children, Sandy W. Pemble and Carl Williams; and Deena’s widower, Tom Newman. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Brandon Pemble, and Lance (Dakota) Pemble and Allison (CJ) Songer, as well as her cherished great-grandchildren, Shylah, Daylen, Kylie, Lacey, Grayson and Skye.
She is also survived by her siblings Shannon Dykes and Mike McClellan. She was preceded in death by her siblings Becky Sodikoff and Larry McClellan.
For those interested, donations can be made in Lois’s memory to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home / One More Child at 1015 Sikes Blvd, Lakeland Florida 33815 (OneMoreChild.org) to honor her lifelong passion for early childhood education and faith.
A viewing will be held on Tuesday May 26, at 10:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m. at Beyers Funeral Home in Leesburg, followed by a brief graveside service at Lone Oak Cemetery in Leesburg.