Glenna Williams

On Christmas Day our beloved Glenna (McAlister) Williams peacefully passed away at home while surrounded by her family. During her 81 years of life she learned and taught countless lessons about love, laughter, and language. She was a cherished wife, beloved mother and ‘Grammy’, and admired educator who will never be forgotten.

Born in Greenville, SC, Glenna was a daughter of the late Fred Miles and Hazel McAlister Trammell.

She received a master’s degree in education and retired as a teacher with Greenville County Schools after 30 years at Hughes Middle School. During the early days of her teaching career, Glenna witnessed the desegregation of schools in South Carolina and observed the evolving relationship between equity and equality in public education. She was a respected leader in her community and classroom due to her intelligence and consistent demonstration of patience and kindness towards colleagues and students of all levels. Glenna was able to masterfully encourage and guide these maturing adolescents on their paths towards higher education and employment. She believed in people and selflessly invested most of her time and energy in helping others achieve their greatest potential.

Glenna was also a skilled artisan who created beautiful needlework crafts of all types, primarily as gifts for others. This tradition has continued through five generations in her family.

She is survived by her loving husband of 22 years and fellow bibliophile, Joseph “Joe” H. Williams of Greenville. The happy couple married on Valentine’s Day in 2001 and throughout their marriage shared an eternal passion for the written word.  She also leaves her daughter, Shannon R. Poole and her husband Allen of Woodruff, a son, Miles Trammell of Greenville; five grandchildren, Jacob M. Barber, Emily R. Barber, Max Trammell, Charlie Trammell, and Avalee Trammell.

In addition to her parents, Glenna was preceded in death by her brother, Fred M. Trammell.

At the request of her family, services will be privately held under the direction of Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown Chapel. Private burial will take place in Woodlawn Memorial Park at the convenience of her family.  

In lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests memorials be made to one’s local library or a worthy animal charity.

Friends are encouraged to leave condolence messages for the family by clicking on the button labeled “Leave A Message, Share A Memory” below.