Darlene Williams' Funeral- Family in Need After Tragic Loss

My name is Jawanza James Williams, 35. I am the son of the late James E. Williams Sr. and as of this week, the late Darlene Louise Walker-Williams, both of Beaumont, Texas. I work at an advocacy organization in New York responding to violence against low-income people, and I am a 3rd year Political Science Phd student at the City University of New York Graduate Center.

On Thursday, December 19th, 2024, at approximately 1PM, Darlene Louise Walker-Williams, my mother of three, sister of 11, and widow was diagnosed with brain death and pronounced deceased by a wonderful team of physicians at UTMB in Galveston, Texas. Darlene was 59 years old.

My mother suffered from massive brain bleeding and lack of oxygen due to likely subsequent cardiac arrests. This was an entirely unexpected tragedy. As far as we understand, the doctors who responded to her did everything they could do; however, because the Beaumont healthcare system was not equipped with neurosurgery departments, my mother had to be transferred to a different hospital, losing critical moments for intervention. Her travel to another hospital was also slowed because the doctors struggled to keep her from coding and weather conditions prevented an airlift.

I mention all of these details because the people who loved my mother know that she was a fighter, and we can attest that she did. We also experienced these real-time updates as a family; it was truly one of the most difficult things any of us (hopefully) will ever experience.

I am creating this fundraiser to generate the revenue needed to hold the funeral services that my mother wished for. My mother did not have an active life insurance policy, though it was something we were working towards. Last year, my father, James E. Williams Sr, passed in July and we are still recovering from the expenses of his also uninsured end-of-life affairs. This also includes securing our family home in Beaumont, Texas, where my parents were nearly done paying for this home. There is just over a year's worth of payments remaining. I am committed to ensuring that my family does not lose our only home.

I can't do it alone at this time. I need help.

We intend to hold the services within the first couple of weeks of the new year.

James & Darlene were married for 35 years, together for over 40. They conceived of two boys, Jawanza (me) and Jamie, and together raised 5, Jamarlon, Jaurian, and Darnall. We are reeling from this development and the loss of these critical pillars of our family structure. But we have faith that we will get through this, somehow. A day at a time.

My mother was truly the life of the party. She was kind, conscious, respectful, and familial. She worked from a place of morality and trying to do whats right. She'd treat people the way she wished to be treated. I will always honor her for that.

If you view this memorial video I made for my father last year, you'll see plenty of her laughing, dancing, powerfully joyous spirit conjuring a love for life in all of the people around her: VIEW HERE

If you have the means, please share any amount you can. And if you can't at this time please share this message so that it reaches someone who may be able to support.

If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me via email: Jawanzajameswilliams AT gmail DOT com

with deepest gratitude,

-Jawanza Williams