Carrie Belle Freeman McWilliams

WEATHERFORD -- Services for Carrie McWilliams will be at 10 a.m. Friday, January 29, 2016, at White's Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. in Coleman City Cemetery, Coleman, Texas. Carrie Belle Freeman Rainey McWilliams was the third child of Ulmer B. and Ida Lucille (Freeman) Rainey, born Nov. 27, 1938, in Meridian, Miss. The family lived on a farm in Midway, a rural community located “mid-way” between Newton and Decatur, Miss. Carrie's father joined the war effort and was killed in the Battle of Cherbourg, France during World War II, 1943, just shy of her sixth birthday. Her mother Lucille never remarried. Instead, Lucille took in her siblings Roscoe “Coy” Freeman and Kate Freeman, caring for them along with her three small children. It was during this time Carrie taught herself to play the piano, which became her life's passion. Carrie is a 1956 graduate of Decatur High School, Decatur, Miss. Her mother provided Carrie with one semester of college tuition, and she attended Clark College in Newton, Miss. At Clark, Carrie earned a scholarship playing piano for the school choir. She then transferred to Mississippi College where she also played piano on scholarship, and in 1960 she completed her Bachelor's Degree in Education. Carrie then moved to New Orleans, La., where she made colorful, life-long friends and continued her educational pursuits. In 1963, she completed her Master's Degree in Education at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She then taught English at Saint Bernard and Jefferson Parrish schools for 16 years. During the summer of 1967, Carrie met the love of her life, Roy McWilliams, and they married in New Orleans at Saint Charles Ave. Baptist Church on Feb. 25, 1968. She and Roy enjoyed life together in New Orleans, and together raised Roy's two children, Bryan and Kimberly. In 1976, her daughter, Laura Shannon was born, and in 1978, Roy, Carrie and Laura Shannon moved to Abilene, Texas, where Roy operated an independent petroleum company. In 1986, the three of them moved to Weatherford. Carrie returned to teaching in 1988 and earned her certification in Special Education. She taught special education at Hinkle Elementary and retired in 2004. Carrie became ill with Alzheimer's disease shortly after retirement, and she passed away January 24, 2016, in Weatherford. She was preceded in death by her father; her mother; her sister, Naullene Richardson; and her brother, Willard Rainey. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Roy McWilliams of Jacksboro; daughter, Laura Shannon McWilliams Land of Houston; step-son, Bryan McWilliams of Rockville, Md.; step-daughter, Kim Bertha of Denver, Co.; grandchildren, Erin Morrow of Beaumont, Calif., Austin Lovelace of Denver, Co., Dana McWilliams of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Annalee McWilliams of Kiel, Germany. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews. Carrie's life work was education. In addition to 31 years in teaching, she instilled in her family and loved ones an appreciation for education, learning and culture, which they will no doubt pass on to others. And while Alzheimer's disease stole her memories, she played the piano until the day she died. White's Funeral Home Weatherford, 817-596-4811