Clara Mae  (Young) Williams was born to Marjorie Myrene Brewer and Thilbert Young on Feb. 26, 1929 in Ridgely, Tennessee. Her father passed away before she was born and the only father she knew was her stepfather, Perry Bright. She was raised by her mother and grandmother and she attended school in Cairo, Illinois, where most of her family lived.

She professed a belief in our Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 12 and was baptized in the Ohio River in Cairo, Illinois. Her first marriage was in 1947 to Willie Jackson Jr. in Cairo, Illinois and they resided in Kansas City, Mo. She later met and married Luther Williams in Dyersburg ,Tennessee in 1955.  To this union was born two daughters and one son. She also had one stepson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Thilbert Williams and stepson Luther Williams Jr. and brother Luther Artis. The family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois in 1970 and she was employed at Famous Barr and St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis Mo.

Mother Clara Williams was a long time member of West End Baptist Church and later became a beloved member of Abundant Life  C. O. G. I. C. East St. Louis , Illinois. She was an active member there until recently when her health started to fail and she could not attend services  like she wanted , but her heart was happy when she talked about the Lord!  She loved her church home and church family.

Mother Williams had many interests and among them was gardening, sewing, fishing, writing poetry, and one of her poems was published. She also loved to cook for her family, especially on the holidays. Whenever her children or grandchildren had a birthday they knew that she would bake the cake!

She had several cherished items, one of them being a personalized letter from President Barrack Obama.

She leaves to cherish her memory: Two daughters , Sabrina Moore (Robert) and Myrene Williams (Patrick), one sister, Nettie M. Bush (Anderson) of Chicago, IL. , a cousin that was like a brother, Richard Allen, one god-daughter, Juanita Moss , six grandchildren , Montrese A. Miller, Larry R. Miller Jr., Davon P. Miller, Kolotta D. Floore , Jason S. Rencher, and Clara P. Williams , eleven great-grand children , Montrese Kiana Grant , Dalynn A. Beverly,  Mylonn C. Miller , Davon P. Miller Jr., Kennedi A. Miller , Devin P. Miller, Dylan P. Miller, Ashijane S. Barlow, Lorenzo M. Barlow, Kaharra S. Steward, Kamarra S. Steward, one niece and a host of other relatives and friends.