SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Sylacauga City Schools Foundation presented the 49th Chair honoring Anne Williams Taylor, her twin brother, the late William E. Williams, Jr., and their parents, the late William E. and Mary Land Williams. The chair was a generous gift presented by the Sylacauga High School Class of 1962.
Ben White served as vice president of the Class of 1962 and said, “It is right and appropriate that we recognize two of the people who were among the best in our class. When it comes to thinking about our time at SHS, I remember how Bill would call and get people together. Bill and Anne were special, they were loved, they were involved, and we are honored to remember Bill who left us before we were ready, and Anne, who is still with us.”
Also speaking at the presentation were close friends, including Shera Lou Honeycutt. She said, “Mr. Williams died suddenly when the twins were in the 5th grade, and Mrs. Williams dedicated her life to raising her children. Everyone was always welcomed at the Williams house. Mrs. Williams gave everybody who came guidance, taught us the moral thing to do, and taught us the social graces. She always stressed for us to do our best in everything we did. We want to celebrate this family that has so profoundly influenced us in so many ways.”
Dianne Norwood added, “Anne touched the hearts of others in her classroom, in her church, by rearing her son and devoting her life to the lives of others. She is the kind of woman every girl wants to be.”
“The first time I met Bill Williams we formed a friendship that lasted 40 years,” said Toby Walls. “He became not just my best friend, but a brother. The one thing I loved about Bill was his outlook on life, his sense of humor. He cherished life. Having him for a friend you got a bonus. You got Anne and you got their mother.”
Anne Williams Taylor has been married for 44 years to Tim Taylor. He remarked, “On behalf of Anne, Bill, their parents, and our family, we want to thank the Foundation and the Class of 1962 for this honor. These halls echo with the sounds of laughter, the growing pains of learning, and the many things that were part of their growing up and maturing. Anne and Bill both started at Main Avenue, then SHS, then Auburn. As twins they did a lot together and loved and protected each other. Bill was taken too soon when he had a heart attack at the age of 54. Anne taught school for one year at Main Avenue, then at Bluff Park in Birmingham for 12 years until we adopted our son, Andy. She loves and appreciates each of you and we thank you for this honor.”
Sylacauga City Schools Foundation Chair
The Sylacauga City Schools Foundation was created in 1988 by superintendent Dr. Joe Morton and is dedicated to the support of Sylacauga schools in their quest for excellence. Each year the Foundation awards thousands of dollars in classroom grants to support learning, and has given over $1.2 million in grants since its inception. The Sylacauga City Schools Foundation is dedicated to enhancing and supplementing the educational needs of students.
Kim Ellison for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2017, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved