Shirley Foley Williams

Shirley Foley Williams, 91, passed away Thursday October 29, 2026.

Born July 6, 1935, in Warren, Kentucky, Mom was the daughter of Daniel and Flora (Grant) Foley. She grew up in West Virginia and graduated from Big Creek High School in War, McDowell County. She maintained friendships with former classmates throughout her life and especially enjoyed attending class reunions.

Mom and her husband, Charles Williams, made their home in several Maryland communities, including Baltimore, Essex, Rocks State Park, and Sparks, before moving to Michigan in 1986. Following Dad's death on October 30, 1997, Mom eventually returned to Maryland to live with her daughter Patricia.

Mom had a curious mind, a remarkable love of words, and a fiercely competitive streak. An enthusiastic Scrabble player, she approached the game with a determination to win and was known to enlist the help of a trusty electronic word finder. She loved crossword puzzles, word searches, and trivia, often surrounding herself with dictionaries, almanacs, and reference books in pursuit of an elusive answer. Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune were longtime favorites.

An avid reader, Mom especially enjoyed the novels of Debbie Macomber and a good romance. She was rarely without a book, and her enthusiasm for reading sometimes resulted in an impressive collection of borrowed library books. She also loved Hallmark movies, particularly the handsome leading men she affectionately called her "pretty boys."

Although Mom never learned to drive, she never let that keep her from exploring the world around her. When we were young, she took us all over Baltimore by bus, visiting museums, the zoo, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, and countless other destinations. She passed along a love of learning and discovery through these everyday adventures.

Mom also found great pleasure in the natural world. An enthusiastic birdwatcher, she kept feeders stocked and delighted in the parade of wildlife that visited her backyard. Birds, squirrels, hawks, deer, and foxes were all welcome, and she loved sharing news of her latest visitors with family.

She loved going for car rides, particularly through the mountains, and no outing was quite complete without a vanilla milkshake. A true milkshake connoisseur, she had definite opinions about which establishments served the best, and sampling them became a favorite family pastime.

Her faith was an important part of her life. Mom became involved with the Seventh-day Adventist Church while living in Michigan and was later an active member of Wilna Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland, where she enjoyed teaching children's Sabbath School classes.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Williams. She is survived by her daughters, Shirley Couteau (Greg) of Lake Ridge, Virginia and Patricia Williams of Bel Air, Maryland; her grandson, Kevin Couteau of Lake Ridge, Virginia; and her sisters, Jewel Guidi of Salisbury, Maryland, and Dorothy Jean Smith of Houston, Texas.

A private family gathering will be held to remember and celebrate her life.

Mom will be remembered for her inquisitive mind, her love of family, her competitive spirit, and her delight in life's simple pleasures. Whether solving a difficult crossword, watching the birds gather outside her window, enjoying a drive through the mountains, or searching for the perfect vanilla milkshake, she found joy in the little things that make life memorable.