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Light a Candle
Carol Elaine Williams (neé Person) was born on December 14, 1943 in Philadelphia, PA, the eldest child of Eloise Roberta and Alpha Omega “Percy” Person. Carol was a vivacious, gorgeous, immensely creative and highly intelligent soul. She lived life with a resolve, courage and spiritual foundation that can only be described as divinely powerful, bright and resilient. She left this earth on July 30, 2022, in Roseville, CA surrounded by those who loved her; and by those who were present in spirit, notably touched in their lives by Carol’s resounding laughter and bold, exploratory passion.
Her extended family was based in both Reading and Tyrone, PA with a strong history of self-sufficiency, economic development and small business ownership. Her family was one of many free Black American families prior to the Civil War who thrived in their own communities, but is rarely referenced in US History. Her father Alpha Person was a WWII veteran and used his GI Bill funds to purchase land in South Jersey where he built the family home. Carol’s childhood was spent in the historic township of Lawnside, NJ where she thrived in a working and middle class environment. There was war, racial segregation and civil unrest in the United States during this time, however she maintained fond memories of love and local community support. The seed was planted that she could do anything she set her mind to complete.
Carol married Wayne Barcelona Williams on November 5, 1962. Their first child, Crystal Elaine was born in 1963, their son Wayne Jr in 1968 and their youngest daughter Aimee in 1971. Carol and Wayne were childhood friends and high school sweethearts, growing up in Lawnside, NJ. Their story is one of romance and struggle; love and pain; triumph and tragedy. Carol was a stay at home Mom for the first phase of her adult life experience while her husband became one of the first black New Jersey State Troopers, concurrently attaining his BS in Political Science from Rutgers University.
In December 1976, Carol traveled with her husband Wayne and their three children, Crystal Elaine Capponi (neé Williams), Wayne Barcelona Williams Jr., and Aimée Olivia Williams across the country to embark on a journey of new beginnings. In the stormiest winter on record with icy roads and dangerous cold fronts, they sold their home in Magnolia, NJ hitched a U-Haul trailer to their station wagon and headed west to San Francisco, CA. Carol attained her BA in Ethnic Studies (magna cum laude) from SF State University in 1981; the same year her daughter Crystal Elaine graduated from Lowell High School. Her husband Wayne graduated from UC Berkeley’s Boalt School of Law the year prior in May 1980, fulfilling the goal of expanding his law enforcement career.
During a tumultuous time of change and struggle in the early 1980s, the family relocated to Sacramento, CA. Tragedy struck when her husband of 22 years died in 1985 and Carol became a single parent to two teenagers and a young adult in college. Carol then began work as a Career Counselor with Sacramento State University, retiring after 20 years of notable achievement and recognition assisting students in fulfilling their employment dreams. She embraced retirement with the same energy as she lived life. She truly enjoyed her home and garden in Sacramento, but most importantly she found her spiritual community in Unity Church where she was a member for 40 years. Carol was a long-term healer and transcendental meditation pioneer. Her children fondly recall coming home from school and knowing if it was quiet in the house, it meant Mom was meditating. She was a trailblazer and ahead of her time. She made all her young children’s clothing by hand, having learned from her mother Eloise Person who was also a professional seamstress. In her youth, Carol loved to entertain and was an amazing host, making holidays extremely memorable; most notably Christmas, which was her favorite holiday.
In addition to having a strong spiritual foundation, Carol became an accomplished Toastmaster and public speaker, where she rose to the ranks of representing the Sacramento Valley as a keynote speaker and officer. Carol was also a sculptor, a world traveler, a writer, an avid reader, an accomplished genealogist, and a ballerina. She studied ballet as a young girl and danced with Judith A. Jamison, who was a childhood friend. Ms. Jamison famously danced with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Carol found her passion again as a dancer in later years, whereby she taught ballet to young girls and held wonderful choreographed dance performances that delighted audiences in her church. She loved Dancing with the Stars and hardly missed a program. It is an understatement to say that Carol loved the groups Earth, Wind & Fire, The Isley Brothers and The Spinners. She attended many of their live concerts, escorting each of her excited children to music venues. Her eldest daughter Crystal Elaine benefited from this early musical indoctrination by becoming a composer, musician and songwriter.
Carol loved debating academic theories, but more importantly she was an advocate for human rights and a lifelong voter, which was birthed and cemented in her undergraduate studies and time spent in San Francisco. This includes community activism in underdeveloped areas of the city. Her dedication to community and helping others rise above was always a reflection of her inner spirit. Additionally, she respectfully embraced her African American culture in ways that uplifted and educated others. Despite having several health conditions that impacted her as a young woman, Carol moved forward with tremendous courage and grace. She never let this challenge adversely impact her as she simultaneously cared for her children, supported their interests, and attained her highest goals. She collaborated with her health care providers and researched many areas of medical science to ensure her optimal care.
Those who were blessed to know Carol, can almost certainly still hear her infectious, melodic laugh and the joy it bestowed upon those in her presence. She truly was an evolved human being who fully transcended as a soul in her lifetime. She is no doubt dancing with those who preceded her in death; her beloved husband Wayne Barcelona Williams, her mother Eloise Roberta Josephine Person (neé Snyder), her father Alpha Omega Person, her sister Abigail Person, her brother Michael Person, her paternal grandparent Beatrice Gibson, her maternal grandparents Abigail Hunter Snyder and George Snyder, and her maternal aunts Helen E. Snyder and Sara A. Stokes who were both a tremendous influence in her life. Carol Elaine Williams is survived by her three children, residing in Sacramento, CA, Crystal Elaine Capponi (neé Williams), Wayne Barcelona Williams, Jr., Aimée Olivia Williams and her only grandchild Elijah Jackson Shaw (son of Aimée Williams and Jacque Shaw). She who engendered excellence, demonstrated grace and radiated elegance is deeply missed by her beloved family and friends. May her soul continue to shine in eternal power, love and peace.
Authored by her daughter: Crystal Elaine Williams Capponi
