Lillie Elizabeth Williams' Obituary
The Life of Lillie Elizabeth Williams
Lillie believed wholeheartedly that you will find joy in the wilderness and that is something she has boldly proclaimed during her six-year fight against metastatic breast cancer. Lillie Elizabeth Williams claimed victory over death and the disease and joined her Savior on her favorite day, The Lord’s Day, on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
She was born in Longview, Texas on January 27, 1989, to Chaundra Riley and Vincent Rowe. Lillie is the oldest of four followed by her sister, Morgan and brothers, Zachary and Logan. They were her first babies. Growing up, her family moved around but East Texas was always home and that is where she returned after graduating from Midway High School in Waco in 2007. She originally pursued a kinesiology degree at East Texas Baptist University but always felt there was something more.
Lillie met the love of her life, Charles, in 2009, while working at an eye doctor where Chas was a patient. It was love at first sight for the both of them, she did her typical facebook-fbi search to reach out to him and he kept coming in “because his contacts didn’t fit right”. She threw out the first line and in true Lizzy fashion she didn’t stop pursuing him until she got what she wanted. They were inseparable from the start and got married on December 14, 2009.
Liz and Chas started their family right away and she finally found the “more” she was looking for in a career. Lillie was known by many names through the years; Lillie, Elizabeth, Liz, Lizzy and then her favorite title, Mom. Motherhood changed her for the better and fulfilled everything she was searching for. Charles Richard Williams IV, known as CJ, was born on August 1, 2010. He was the highlight of everyone’s lives and changed their worlds. Christian David Williams, often called David, was born on April 17, 2012. Chandler, known as Chan, was born on August 15, 2013. Their hands were full, but they knew their family wasn’t complete. Chas, of course Lillie, too, knew they wanted at least one girl. Mary Elizabeth Anne Williams, known as ME, completed the family on November 26, 2016, and has had her parents and brothers wrapped around their fingers from the start.
Lillie and Sarah Gillette have been inseparable from the beginning, “cradle to grave” has been their slogan their entire lives. From dancing, to leaving Morgan stuck in a tree house for hours, to dressing up Ethan or her brothers, they were together through it all. Her people were her family and her church family.
Lillie was a passionate homemaker and was the boss of all things as their family was self-employed; she ran the books for the businesses and kept everyone else in line. She also homeschooled her four children.
Lillie was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, devoting her time and energy to wanting every person to know that Jesus loved them deeply, there is joy in the wilderness, and just loving on the children of God. Her relationship with Christ is what informed every aspect of her life. Because of her faith, her family is able to know she is healed and they will all be together again in Heaven.
Everyone who knew Lillie knew how much she loved all things which is evident in her many hobbies. She has always been gifted and could pick up just about anything she wanted and would excel. She loved reading, photography, sewing and quilting, hummingbirds and flowers, most especially Lilly's.
Lillie will always be remembered for her strength and faith in the Lord. We couldn’t have asked for a better mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. She loved her husband and children more than anything as well as all of her nieces and nephews and fervently prayed for them. If you were considered her “people”, then you were hers and she loved you deeply and fought for you.
Lillie was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Loretta Schneider, her mother-in-law, Karen Williams, and her maternal grandfather, Gordon Randall Ottens. Lillie cared for her mother-in-law, Karen “Kiki” Williams, before she was also healed and joined Jesus and the family is comforted by knowing they are together again and watching over them.
She is survived by her husband, Chas, her children, CJ, Christian, Chandler, and Mary Elizabeth, her mother, Chaundra Riley (spouse, Monty Riley), father-in-law and Dad, Larry Williams, father, Vincent Rowe, siblings, Morgan Roberts (spouse, Matthew Roberts and children, Bailee, Alayna and Noah), brother Zachary Rowe (spouse, Addison Rowe and children Oakland, Denver, and soon arriving Samuel Tate), brother, Logan Rowe, sister and best friend, Sarah Gillette (children Kenna and Eddie), sister in law, Courtney Dickerson (spouse Josh Dickerson and children Blakelyn, Duke and Jonathan) and grandparents, Barney Rowe and Becky Rowe.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Longview, Texas on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 2:00pm.
If you wish to send flowers, as she loved them, you may send them to Calvary Baptist Church. If it has been placed on your heart to donate financially to help come alongside her family during this time, there is a non-profit account, Lillie Williams Benefit, that had been set up previously at First National Bank of East Texas and a venmo account, @LoveforLillie.
What’s your fondest memory of Lillie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lillie?
Share a story where Lillie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lillie you’ll never forget.
How did Lillie make you smile?