Edith Marie Mayton Williams

Mrs. Edith “Marie” Mayton Williams, 78, passed away on Monday, May 28, 2018, in Durham, NC, from complications due to suspected recurrence of lung cancer.
Marie was born at home in Granville County on December 29, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Bee Mayton and Viola Clements Mayton. She had two brothers, Ronald Wayne Mayton, and William “Bill” Allen Mayton; and three sisters, Ola Mae Mayton Warren, Lilly Louise Mayton Riggs, and Mary Elizabeth Mayton Dixon. She grew up and attended primary school and high school in the area.
Many who lived in Durham in the fifties and sixties may recall being greeted by her smiling face while she worked at Tops Drive Inn with her brother, Bill Mayton, and sister, Betty. She met a great many people and made numerous friends. In fact, while a waitress at Tops, Marie met Larry Williams, son of Lubie E. and Marie S. Williams of Durham. She married Larry in 1967 and their son, Kevin Williams, was soon born in Durham. Larry’s career opportunities moved them to from North Carolina, to Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and Missouri. During this time, Marie dedicated herself to be a homemaker and raising their son.
In Kansas City, Missouri, she worked several years as a retail store manager for Shoe Rack, a division of Robinson Shoes.
She was known for her organizational skills, rule following, and friendly smile. After 13 years of marriage, she divorced and returned to Durham area where she continued to work in retail sales and management. She had always missed her sisters and brothers in North Carolina and enjoyed being back close to them. Kevin enjoyed spending time at her place in the summers and holidays.
In the spring of 2000, at the age of 60 years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She survived major surgery and recovered with loving support of her sisters, Betty, Louise; brothers Bill and Wayne; and mother. She lived back in Granville County and she took up walking and had a passion for gardening. As her mother aged, she joined her brothers to aid and to be a close caretaker for her aging mother. They lived together for many years until her mother’s death.
Later after her mother’s passing, she moved to JFK Towers in Durham. She spent eight years being a friendly neighbor. Moving from the country she missed her garden and walking paths. She replaced these by sharing baked goods with many neighbors and was devoted to walking at Northgate Mall and the halls and grounds of JFK Towers. She loved to share food and could never turn down a Chic-fil-a sandwich, country ham biscuit or nutty buddy. She had countless loving friends and neighbors at JFK.
She was very close to her sisters-in-law, Susan Mayton and Kay Mayton. She loved them deeply for their amazing companionship and angelic support they provided for her over the years. She also saw God’s love in her kind neighbors within JFK Towers and enjoyed passing time with Ilia Pinero and Cecilia Bland.
Marie was a loving daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, niece and sister. Her son, family and neighbors will miss her daily calls and visits.
Marie was predeceased by her sisters, Ola Mae Warren, Lilly Louise Riggs and Mary Elizabeth Dixon.
She is survived by her son, Kevin Williams of Katy, TX; two brothers, Ronald Wayne Mayton of Creedmoor, NC, and William “Bill” Allen Mayton of Durham, NC; grandchildren, Kyle and Julia Williams.

“He who has faith has… an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well – even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.”
• BC Forbes

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 4pm at the JFK Towers at 4900 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27704. Family members will officiate and perform during the service. These are Pastor Adam Hinson of Parkers Chapel Free Will Baptist, Greenville, NC, and Lisa Beverly and Ricky Elliott of Durham.

Flowers may be sent to Hudson Funeral Home or donations can be made to the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210 in memory of Marie Williams for Lung Cancer Research.