On August 7, 1933, in Fort Worth, Texas, a beautiful, baby girl came
into the world named Janis Adaire. As Janis grew up, she was greatly
influenced by her grandparents, Albert and Lula Alexander. Lula passed
her exceptional dressmaking and design skills on to Janis.

When Janis' high school football team, I.M. Terrell High in Fort Worth,
played Tulsa's Booker T. Washington, she met the love of her life,
Lloyd Williams, Jr. Although they lived in different states, they
never lost contact again.

After graduating from Terrell High School, Janis attended Fisk
University and Lloyd Studied at the University of Nebraska. Both
transferred to Texas Southern University in 1953. Janis had the
opportunity to study with the Internationally renowned African American
Artist, John Biggers, and joined with the artist and other students in
painting a mural at TSU. In 1956, she graduated with a degree in Fine
Arts and Lloyd with a degree in Pharmacy. Lloyd spent two years in the
Army, then the happy couple married in 1958. Lloyd joined his dad,
Lloyd, Sr., in operating Tulsa's iconic Williams Drug Store in the
heart of Greenwood - the Black Wall Street of America. Janis and Lloyd
became the joyful parents of two sons, Lloyd, III and Albert.

Janis, who always loved children, was widely known as an artis, jewelry
designer and teacher. She was also well known for her involvement in
many civic and social organizations, including Tulsa's Links. She was
a co-founder and president of the Tulsa Charms, [formerly "Squaws"] and
the Set Club as well as a number of other organizations that focused on
helping children reach their highest potential.

Today, throughout Tulsa and the nation, there are many successful
people who owe their education and training to Janis and the programs
provided by the organizations she served.

In partnership with her husband, Janis owned a talent booking agency,
operating in Tulsa and throughout the Midwest on what history now calls
"The Chitlin Circuit." They featured and became acquaintances with
performers who went on to become legendary, including Lionel Richie,
Ray Charles, Della Reese, B.B. King, Etta James, The Temptations,
Grover Washington, Jr., and Ike & Tina Turner.

Active in the arts community, Janis was an artist-in-residence at
Philbrook Museum. Her great passion was jewelry design, which she
coupled with the dressmaking skills she learned from her grandmother
and distributed her work under the label, "Janis Originals."

In 1990, after 31 years with the Tulsa Public Schools, she retired from
Carver Middle School, where she had served as an art teacher.

A devout Christian and member of Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Mrs.
Williams crossed into Eternity on Friday, April 12, 2013 after and
extended illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, her
grandson, Spencer Williams, and her son, Albert Williams.

She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Williams, Jr., of the home; her
son, Lloyd Williams, III [Monette], Grand Prairie, TX; 4
grandchildren, Myles, Simone, Langston and Royce Williams; 2 sisters,
Minnie Miles and Merle Miles-Adams; 3 brothers, Galen Grimes [Joan],
Pittsburg, PA, Rod Grimes [Patrice], Charlottesville, VA and Brod
Grimes [Sheila], Santa Rosa Beach, FL; her sister-in-law, Beryl Bolton
{Kenneth], Houston, TX; a niece, Stephanie Bolton James,[children,
Savannah and Sierra] Maryland; a nephew, Kenneth Bolton, Jr.[children,
Kenneth, III and Annika Bolton, South Riding, VA; as well as the
extended family, including the Petit family, other relatives and
friends.

The Service of Memory for Mrs. Williams will commence on Saturday,
April 20, 2013 at 10:00 AM in the North Peoria Church of Christ. Burial
will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from
12 Noon until 7 PM andThe family will be present at the funeral home
during the wake on Friday from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Services
entrusted to Keith Biglow and the staff of the Keith D. Biglow Funeral
Directors, Inc.