Services: 10 a.m. Friday, May 22, Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home of Buffalo. Burial in Mission Ridge Cemetery, Urbana. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Bro. Claire Reed officiated. Linda Rooffener and Ramona Vance sang “Uncloudy Day” and “Amazing Grace,” accompanied by Joann Adams.
Escorts were David Slavens, Freeman Slavens, Tim Slavens, David Studyvin, B.J. Williams and Jerry Williams. Honorary escorts were Diane Williams, Scott Williams, Logan Williams, Monte Rucker, John Slavens, Samuel Williams, Randy Williams, Curtis Adams and Joe Rooffener.
Juanita (Slavens) Williams, 88, was born June 3, 1926, in Roach, the daughter of Freeman H. and Oma (Clemmons) Slavens. She died May 19, 2015, in Buffalo.
She graduated from Tunas High School, Southwest Baptist University, Missouri State University, Drury University and the University of Central Missouri. She began teaching at the age of 16 in a one-room school in Ira.
She continued to educate children for the next 45 years in Seaside, Calif., and Marshall. She was one of the first educators selected for training in Little Rock, Ark., when the Head Start program was implemented in 1965. She also helped many adults receive their GED in the Adult Education Program. She was a member of many professional organizations.
She was united in marriage with Samuel B. Williams on Aug. 27, 1950.
She was an expert seamstress and enjoyed quilting, crocheting and many other handcrafts. She also enjoyed gardening and canning.
She researched genealogy and became a Daughter of the American Revolution. Caring for her family and providing assistance for those in need were dear to her heart.
She was baptized and became a member of the Pleasant Hope Baptist Church. She regularly attended Urbana Baptist Church where she taught vacation Bible school.
Juanita was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her brothers: John and Gary Slavens.
Survivors include her two daughters: Connie and husband, David Studyvin, Lees Summit, and Joyce Williams, St. Louis; one son, Stephen and wife, Diane Williams, Wentzville; two grandsons: Scott and Logan Williams, Wentzville; two sisters: Betty Swanigan, Marshall, and Mary Rucker, Tunas; four sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law: Jan Williams, Rogersville, Lorene Slavens, Camdenton, Alberta Slavens, Lebanon, and Opal and Lee Russell, Urbana; many nieces, nephews and friends; and her pet, Katie.
