Mary Ann Williamson

WILLIAMSON, Mary Ann, 78, of Odessa, Florida went to be with the Lord on July 1, 2014. Mary Ann was a life-long native resident of Tampa Bay. She was the most caring, loving Christian wife, mother, friend, grandma, “Merm” and Great Granny. Mary Ann was a dedicated member of the Pentecostal Church. She is preceded in death by her parents Otha and Winnie Locke; six brothers, Paul, Ira, Ed, Horace, Roscoe and Dan; and three sisters, Jewel, Laura Mae and Martha. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years Joseph Williamson; son, Joey and his wife, Becky; daughter, Rocanne and her husband Scott; daughter Tina and her husband Jason; five cherished grandchildren, Katarina, Austin, Corey and his wife Lauren, and Shawn; great- grandson, Cameron; niece, Cherise Blair; nephew, Jack Valdes; caring friends Donna Johnson and many other family and friends. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 7, 2014 at Loyless Funeral Home, Land O’ Lakes. Interment will follow in Williams Cemetery, Dade City, Florida. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2014 at Loyless Funeral Home, Land O’ Lakes. Flowers will be accepted or donations in Mary Ann’s honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. How we met I met Joe in July 1949, at McNatt’s Church. Joe and I were engaged on August 14, 1951. Joe joined the Navy and he left Aug 23, 1951. Joe came home on his first leave November 23, 1951. He went back on a bus at 7:00am on December 1, 1951 to California. On April 12, 1952, Joe came home on the 2:15pm plane. Mama and Daddy W. and Jewell & her two kids and me and my mama met Joe. And on that night we got married in my mama and daddy’s yard. This was Joe’s second leave from the Navy. On April 21, 1952, Joe left on the 9:30am plane to go back to California. July 11, 1952- I called Joe up in San Pedro, California. July 30, 1952-Joe left to go overseas and he went to Japan and Korea and around the coast of Korea for eleven months. May 20, 1953-Joe came home around 7:15pm. He came home by plane. And then he came out to the house in a cab. I was in the kitchen washing the dishes. My mama saw him first. Joe and my mama came around to the back door and I didn’t know who he was. I had the screen door latched and the first words he said to me was, “Aren’t you going to let me in”? I got to him so fast I don’t know how I unlatched the door. I was in his arms and kissing him. I was so glad to see him. He bought me a short green robe (coat) and a long blue robe with slippers to match from Japan. And a blue robe to match them and two scarfs from Hong Kong, China & a cedar chest. On June 18, 1953-Joe left on the 9:40am plane for California. My daddy and I went to see him off and his mama and daddy and his sister, Ilimae and her husband and two kids, and Thelma and Wilma. On June 19, 1953-Joe called me up from San Pedro, California. I got the call about 6:30pm. July 8th, 18th, and 25th, I got calls from Joe. August 1st, I got a call and on August 11th, I received two calls, a call on August 30th, September 14th, and two calls September 30th, and I got a call October 11th, October 18th, November 1st and 3rd. On November 4, 1953, Joe left for overseas. Joe has went to Japan and Formosa. On April 2, 1954, Joe called me up from Formosa. I got the call at 6:40am and my sister Laura Mae had to come and wake me up to go to the phone. It was 9:00pm there at Formosa. On July 16, 1954, Joe called me from Long Beach, CA. I got the call about 11:50am or 12:00pm. Joe told me to meet him at 2:45pm at the airport. So Mama, Daddy W. and Robert Jr. and my Daddy went to meet him. And about 2:50pmI was called to the ticket office and they told me Joe missed the flight and would be in at 10:28 pm on July 17th. So Jewell, and her two kids and Roberta Strickland and I went to meet him. And Tom and Wilma and Thelma and Wanda and Mama and Daddy W. went in their car. Joe came in at about 10:28pm. I saw Joe in the plane as soon as it landed. But I couldn’t wave at him, I was so excited. I was so very glad to see him. I hugged his neck so hard he almost forgot to kiss me. Joe left August 13th at 2:00pm to go to Calif. While Joe was home on those 28 days, we worked on our home. We live in our own home too. On August 13th, 1954, Joe called me up from New Orleans about 4:00pm and on August 14th, Joe called me up about 4:00pm from San Pedro, California. Joe called me up from Hong Kong, China on a Thursday morning at 7:30am. and the date was May 19th, 1955. I was asleep when he called and I ran down to my sisters house. And when I got there they had lost connection with him. I had to wait about 5 or 10 minutes until they got him again. It was 10:30pm at night where Joe was calling from. We talked from 7:45 until about 10 minutes until 8:00. On June 13, 1955, Joe called me up from Long Beach, California. He had been in from overseas about 1 hour. And we talked from 1:00 PM until 1:30 PM or a little more. On July 3, 1955, Joe called me up and on July 10, he called me and again on July 18th and on Aug 8th and Aug 19th, 1955 just before he left to come home for good.