Dr. Christine Wilder Williamson

Dr. Christine Wilder Williamson, age 92, of Macon, Georgia, passed away peacefully in her sleep Saturday morning, November 13, 2021, at The Village of Bellevue Assisted Living Center in Nashville, Tennessee. 

A graveside service will be held at the Macedonia Baptist Church cemetery in Jackson, Georgia, on Thursday, November 18 at 2:00 PM where she will be buried next to Dr. James Bryant Williamson, her husband of over 62 years. Her son, Dr. Bob Williamson, and her son-in-law, Reverend Benjie Shaw, will officiate. A reception will be held afterwards in the Macedonia Baptist Church parlor with light refreshments served and a guest registry for family and friends to sign.

Christine Beverly Wilder was born January 1, 1929, in Sylvester, Georgia, to the late Reverend Herman and Irene Wilder. In addition to her parents, Cris is preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Janet Williamson Kellas, her brothers Hoye and Billy Wilder, and her sister Floye Jordan. Cris is survived by her sons, Joe Williamson of Nashville, Tennessee, and Dr. Bob Williamson of Clarksville, Georgia, and her daughter-in-law Margie Freeman Williamson. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Scott Williamson, Devon Conley, Michelle Mackey, Jenna Shaw, and Erin Williamson; and six great-grandchildren.

Cris was a career educator. By the age of 18, she had graduated from Norman Park Junior College and married her Norman college sweetheart, Jim Williamson. This was shortly after he returned from serving in the navy during WWII. Though she had begun building a family by the age of 22 with the birth of their first child, Bob, she continued with her education throughout her life. She began her educational career as a kindergarten teacher with Vineville Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia. While working full-time as a teacher, she went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Tift Collage, a Master of Education from Mercer University, and eventually a Doctor of Early Childhood Education from Luther Rice Seminary.

A lifelong member of Vineville Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia, Cris not only worked as a kindergarten teacher but served on staff at the church for several years as the Preschool and Children’s’ Sunday School Educational Director and as Director of the church’s on-site kindergarten. She and husband Jim, both retired early and worked throughout the United States as educational consultants with numerous churches, associations, and agencies associated with the Southern Baptist

Convention. They were a formidable team, Jim leading in adult education and Cris in early childhood education. Cris also served for several years as the president of the Georgia Preschool Association.

Even with all these demands on her time, she remained a constant source of love and encouragement to her family, friends and to those in need. To her last day, her wonderful caregivers at The Village of Bellevue who attended her with great tenderness, commented often on how truly sweet she was. Her kind generous heart blessed the lives of all who knew her. Although she is now in Heaven with her beloved Jim, the world is better for her having lived and walked among us all. And we are better, so much better, for having known her and for having loved her. She was the heart of her family and a guiding light to so many little ones throughout her years of work at Vineville Baptist Church. This exceptional woman of great beauty and grace leaves us all with so many precious memories. Even so, we already miss her.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Vineville Baptist Church Benevolence Committee fund.

For those that desire to leave condolences online please visit www.haistenfuneral.com

Haisten Funeral Home of Jackson is serving the Williamson family.

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