Johnnie C. Williams

March 29, 1929 - May 13, 2022

Johnnie (Kesterson) Williams, GrandJohnnie as she was commonly called, was a beloved grandmother, mother, wife, aunt, sister and friend during her incredible life of 93 years. Johnnie gained her angel wings on May 12, 2022. Johnnie, a former resident of Longview for over sixty years, lived her remaining life in Carrollton, Texas. Johnnie was a loving, kind, and fierce woman – holding fast to her beliefs, defending those she loved, and always seeking to better herself. She was a spunky lady, who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Her philosophy could be described as “nobody will tell you this but me.” She always imparted a spirit of overwhelming love to first and foremost, her family. Johnnie’s love of her life was her daughter, Gayla, and she spent many weekends travelling from Longview to Carrollton to make memories with her grandchildren, Brian, Blake, and Brooke before moving to live with them in 2006. Johnnie was born in Graham, Oklahoma in March of 1929 to John and Edith Newberry. She grew up in a loving home with her parents, brother and three sisters, that followed Christian beliefs that shaped her entire life. She graduated from Kilgore High School and then married Bill Kesterson in 1946, who blessed her with their daughter, Gayla in 1957. Johnnie married her long-time high school friend, Jack Williams, in 2001. Johnnie and Jack could certainly “cut a rug” and enjoyed travelling in their motor home across the United States. She spent a lifetime being a hard worker, accepting her first job at the age of 10 and continuing to work at many different jobs until she finally retired at the age of 89. Her boundless energy and personality made it easy for her to gain employment and win over coworkers everywhere she went. Johnnie was a faithful Christian throughout her life, living a servant’s life and modeling a servant’s heart. She loved on people with hugs, kisses and smiles. Any way she could help, whether doing household chores, cooking dinners for family and friends, or calling loved ones just to say hi, she lived every day serving others and ensuring they knew how loved they were. Johnnie was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Leona Rushing, brother, Warren Newberry, and husband Jack Williams. She is survived by sisters Eva Mock, and Bertha Thompson, daughter Gayla (Keith) Baxter, and grandchildren Brian (Melissa) Baxter, Blake (Kyla) Baxter, and Brooke Baxter of Carrollton. GrandJohnnie, what an appropriate name. You were grand in so many ways. You ran the race set out before you, now resting in the arms of our loving Father, and you finished in GRAND style. The service for Johnnie Williams will take place on Friday, May 20 at 10am at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, with visitation of the family beginning at 9:30am.