Elizabeth Williams

WILSON - Elizabeth Hackney Baskervill Williams died peacefully on Wednesday, October 15, in Wilson. She was 90 years old.

A celebration of life will be held this Saturday, October 18, at 1:00 at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Wilson, followed by visitation at the church. A private burial will be held on Sunday in Warrenton, NC.

Elizabeth Acra Hackney was born on February 20, 1924 in Wilson, North Carolina. She was the fourth of six children born to Evelyn Jones Hackney and Thomas Jennings Hackney. Libby, as she was called by family and friends, graduated in 1941 from Charles L. Coon High School in Wilson, where she was president of her senior class. She graduated from St. Mary's College in Raleigh and Women's College in Greensboro (UNC-G). After graduation, she met and later married William Rust Baskervill, Jr. (Bill) of Warrenton, NC. Lib and Bill reared three children, Buck, Evelyn, and Liz on the Baskervill family farm in Red Lawn, Virginia. After Bill passed away in 1983, Lib met R. Douglas Williams, Jr., and they married in 1988.

Anyone who knew Lib, or "Mimi" as her grandchildren called her, will attest to her bubbly effervescence and great sense of humor. She was literally full of joy. She adored children of all ages and had a lifelong passion for teaching. Lib was an elementary school teacher for 33 years and many of her now grown students still proclaim her the very best teacher they ever had. She was the quintessential grandmother who loved nothing more than a rowdy kickball game in the backyard. Also, the consummate hostess, Lib loved entertaining friends, family, and neighborhood kids. Fiercely independent her whole life, she quietly took charge when a need arose. She also devoted much of her life to various volunteer projects and foundations, with a special love of the various libraries in the towns where she lived.

Lib is survived by her son, William Rust Baskervill, III (Buck) and wife, Libby, her two daughters, Evelyn Hackney Baskervill, and Elizabeth Baskervill Goodman (Liz) and husband, Greg. She is also survived by her three adoring grandchildren, Sallie Burwell Baskervill, William McGimsey Baskervill and wife, Lindsay, and Charles Alexander Baskervill. Other surviving family includes her sister, Sarah Hackney Lindley, stepchildren, Doug Williams and Eliza Williams Hoover, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Memorials should be directed to St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, PO Box 1527, Wilson, NC 27894.