Ann Carol Williamson

Ann Carol Williamson, 67, of Green Cove Springs, Florida transitioned on June 26, 2015. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida on December 16, 1947 to parents, Elaine and John E. Williamson, who predeceased her, as well as her brother, Robert John (“Bob”) Williamson. She is survived by sisters, Janis Williamson Smith (Donnie) and Kathryn Williamson Lancaster; nieces, Roberta Williamson Bailey (Mark), Karen Lancaster and Maria Lancaster; nephews, Robert "BJ" [Williamson] Bettner (Amanda), Bryan Gunnar Bailey, and John Cory Williamson. Ms. Williamson attended Penney Farms Elementary School and Reinhold Junior High School, receiving her diploma from Clay High School in June 1965. She attended St. Johns River Community College in Palatka, where she was enrolled in business courses. Subsequently, she completed courses at Orange Park Beauty Academy and received her cosmetology license in the early 1970s. Ann was then employed by a wig-and-hairpiece company that sent her to New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans, Richmond, and Norfolk as she represented them in fine department stores. Her deep love of her hometown and people of Green Cove Springs brought her back to “The Cove” to stay. She had remained a fixture over the years in Clay County as a whole. Upon returning to her hometown, Ann began her journalism career reporting for the Clay County Crescent weekly newspaper in the 1970s, alongside her late mother, Elaine (Editor Emeritus). They were quite the pair (reporting only the facts). Ann was employed there for 16 years, and Elaine was on the staff for decades. Ann was also a reporter and writer for the Clay County Leader weekly newspaper during the 1990s, having her own editorial/political column entitled “Between the Lines.” During this same time, Ann was employed for a couple of years by The Law Source, Inc., a legal-research and consultation firm, in Gainesville, Florida with her sister, Janis, in the production department, word processing and finalizing legal briefs, court documents, and other work products for attorneys located statewide. For approximately the past ten years, Ann has been the political staff writer/contributor of the Neighbor to Neighbor monthly newspaper. She held a second job for the past nine years as a sandwich artist at Subway in Green Cove Springs. Ann’s long list of accomplishments includes the following: Second Place, Freedom of Information, Florida Press Association in 1979, shared with Editor Elaine Williamson, for their columns and reports on the happenings in Green Cove Springs before and during a grand jury investigation. This information clued the citizens and voters of Green Cove Springs in on what was happening in their town. The reporting of this mother-daughter dynamic duo eventually led to a new City Charter and a commission that became a Council. She was nominated to "Outstanding Young Women of America" in 1980 by Chairman of the Clay County Commission at the time, Wayne Spivey, and endorsed by the Village Improvement Association, Florida Federated Woman's Club, Green Cove Springs. In 1983, Ann received the First Place Award in the State of Florida for Investigative Reporting in the Better Newspaper Contest, sponsored by the Florida Press Association while employed at the Clay County Crescent. In 1991, she was honored as the Add, Inc. (new corporate owners of the Clay County Crescent) Employee of the Year. In 1992, she was presented an award for 16 years of devoted service to the Clay County Crescent. Ann was honored with the Citizen of the Year Award during the 12th Annual Soul Food Festival in 2013 and rode in its parade through Green Cove Springs. In 2014, her lawn on Forbes Street won the Mayor's Beautification Award in the Opal Reed Beautification Program (Residential Category) sponsored by the Village Improvement Association. She was the Historian of the Clay County Agricultural Fair and felt very honored to have also been a judge there. Some years ago, the Clay County Fair Association permanently honored both Ann and her mother, Elaine, with a rocking chair with a plaque that sits on the porch of the Penney Farms school house in the Early Florida Village. Ann has devoted her life to her career, family, and many friends. Ms. Williamson’s memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 310 South Oakridge Avenue, Green Cove Springs. It was Ann’s final request to her sisters that she be cremated upon her death and that her cremains be interred at the Penney Farms Cemetery. Arrangements under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring Street, Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043, (904) 284-4000.