Ella Mae Williams was born August 7, 1927, to Houston and Lula Suggs in Russellville, AL. She was the third oldest of 15 children. She married Richard "Dooley" Williams and moved to Florence, AL, and together they had 8 children. In Florence, Ella Mae was a member of St. James Missionary Baptist Church where she served on the usher board. Ella Mae moved back to Russellville in 1979 and rededicated her life by joining First Baptist Church on College Avenue. Affectionately called "Punk" by those that loved her, Ella Mae's main goal was to be a great mother and grandmother. She loved cooking, Pepsi drinks, and being the matriarch of her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Houston and Lula Suggs; her husband, Richard Williams; three children, Richard "Jake" Williams, Carrie "Babysister" Roy, Lula Teresa "Lulu" Addison; a great-grandson, Machi Williams, three great-granddaughters, Diamond Sears, Kabresha Jones and Camille Williams, two sisters, and six brothers.

She is survived by three daughters, Etta Russell (Florence, AL), Barbara Williams (Russellville, AL), Charlotte Winston (Leighton, AL); two sons, John Houston (Lender) Williams (Leighton, AL) and Fred Williams (Russellville, AL) and an adopted daughter, Annie Marie Malone (Nashville, TN), 35 grandchildren, 70 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren, five sisters: Carrie Hill (Chicago, IL), Margaret Graham (Detriot, MI), Ann Kimbrough (Canton, OH), Priscilla Mosley (Russellville, AL), Pauline Mosley (Russellville, AL) and one brother, Robert Suggs (Detroit, MI) and a host of nieces and nephews.