Wilma Gem Tennant Williams

Wilma Gem Tennant Williams, 96, of Daybrook, died Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Fairmont Regional Medical Center. She was born August 8, 1928, in Basnettville, a daughter of Uriah Nimrod “Buzzy” Tennant and Eva Belle Toothman Tennant.
She graduated from Fairview High School in 1946, where she won the Shurtleff Toothman Award for leadership, meeting diversities head on, and being an all-around good student.
She married Billy Dale Williams February 28, 1948, and they were married for 63 years.
She is survived by one daughter, Deborah Delaney of Fairview; and one son, Roger Williams of Daybrook; grandchildren, Shannon Rogers (Leonard) of Damiansville, Ill., and Jamie Ingle (Mark) of Falling Waters; stepgranddaughter, Debby Michalski (Jay) of Monongahela; and stepgrandson, Sean Majors (Edie) of Alton, Ill.; great-grandchildren, Kayla and Brittany Rogers, Morgan Delaney, Jakob Mauzy and Jackson Ingle; step- great-grandsons, Brad Ross and Michael Michalski; and step- great-granddaughter Shelli McCallister. She also has three great- great-grandchildren, and five step-great-great- grandchildren.
She is also survived by two brothers, Clifton Tennant (Loretta) of Fairview, and David Tennant (Patricia) of Barrackville; sister-in- law, Correll Cummins of Vero Beach, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Linda Williams of Fairmont; former daughter-in-law, Joyce Williams of Wana; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one son, Donald Lee Williams; one brother, Olan “Bud” Tennant; and three sisters, Virginia Freeland, Rosalie Chisler, and Patricia Whitehead.
Wilma loved music and dancing and started playing the piano by ear when she was five years old. Over the years she played for many different community functions including PTA variety shows, sing-a- longs, and at church. She organized the Rhythmaires Kitchen Band in 1994 and played the keyboard in it for 12 years. In 1996, she was selected Ms. Senior WV and competed in the Ms. Senior America in Biloxi, Miss.
She was always active in community service being in the PTA, Homemaker’s Club, Clay District Fair Association, and Blacksville Senior Citizens. In 2005, she was instrumental in chartering the Western Monongalia Area Lions Club and received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated humanitarian services.
Her family and friends will lovingly remember her as someone who enjoyed talking to people and always wanted to know what was going on in her family, church, and community.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 28, in the Daybrook Methodist Church, where the funeral service will be held at 12 noon Saturday, March 29, with Pastor Fred Eddy officiating. Burial will follow in the Williams Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Daybrook Methodist Church, c/o Linda Harbert, 2408 Daybrook Road, Fairview, WV 26570; or the Williams Cemetery Fund, c/o Kim Brummage, 2596 Daybrook Road, Fairview, WV 26570.
The Owen-Neely Funeral Home in Blacksville is in charge of arrangements.