Longtime Little Rock resident Frances B. Williams, was a daughter to the late Congressman Alfred Lee Bulwinkle and Bessie Lewis Bulwinkle. She was the widow of E. Grainger Williams. She was predeceased by Alfred Lewis and Manon Bulwinkle, Tom Wedaman and Moe Quinn, Brownie W. and Cal Ledbetter, E. Grainger Williams (the late Virginia), June H. Williams, Quendrid W. Veatch (Ralph).
She was educated in public schools in Dallas and Gastonia, and in Washington, D.C. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Washington (D.C.) School for Secretaries. After graduation, she worked in her Father's Congressional Office for six years. She married E. Grainger Williams in 1939; they were a strong and dynamic team for almost 74 years. One of Frances' greatest contributions to this community was her willingness to stand up for equal public educational opportunities for all during the Little Rock Crisis in 1957-58, and the years following. She was an original member, and on the executive committee, of the Women's Emergency Committee to Open our Schools and was active in service during the life of that organization. That she was a strong believer in equal opportunities for all and relished meeting and knowing people of different backgrounds and cultures is reflected in her other civic and religious affiliations. She was a 50+ year member of both the Urban League of Greater Little Rock and the American Red Cross. She belonged to the League of Women Voters, the Fine Arts Club, the International Club and the State Hospital Auxiliary. Although raised a Lutheran, she was an active member of Central Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Second Presbyterian Church, all in Little Rock. She and Grainger offered strong leadership in the building and support of Presbyterian Village. She served as one of the organizers of their Women's Auxiliary and as a longtime volunteer.

Published in Gaston Gazette on June 14, 2015