Obituaries

Wanda Sue Williams, 82, departed this earthly life and entered eternal rest on Saturday, December 17, 2022. Services will be Wednesday, December 28, 2022 beginning with visitation at 11 a.m. and funeral service to follow at 1 p.m. at The Way Church, 3107 Wayside Drive.

Wanda was born to the late William and Evelyn Tennyson in Louisville, KY on September 22, 1940. She was born shortly after her fraternal twin sister, Wilma. During their early years, they took the nicknames “Pep Baby” and “Jew Baby”. She attended Louisville Central High School where she was a powerhouse in track and field and tennis. She had the opportunity to run track against Wilma Rudolph and was also considered one of the fastest women in Louisville in that era.

She graduated in 1959 before moving to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in nursing. She attended the LA School of Nursing and graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the 1960s. From there, she furthered her education at Southwest College in California where she was two classes short of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Her love and passion for nursing were undeniable. She would continue to work as a nurse all over the country for over 40 years.

She was a pastor for 42 years and owned two churches. During her time as a pastor, Wanda earned her Doctorate degree in Missionary work from Aspen College. She was also credentialed as a police chaplain, partnering with the police department to offer ministry at the Pee Wee Valley Women’s Facility. She took her ministry across the world, with Ghana, Africa being one of her favorite places. In 1962 Wanda married her high school sweetheart, Edward Vernon Williams Sr., and shared 56 years of marriage until his death in 2018. In that time, they shared 9 beautiful children, including 2 angel sons.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Edward Williams Jr., and 2 sons that passed away at birth. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Emily Northington and Anita “Yerva” Spalding, and her brothers; Tyrone Tennyson, Milton Julius Tennyson, Larry Tennyson, and William Henry “Sonny” Tennyson.

Wanda leaves to cherish her children, Londa (William), Sherry (Bryan), Micah (Shannon), Daniel (Donnesha), Jocelyn, and Angel; her siblings, twin sister Wilma (Joseph; deceased), McKinley (Donna), Sylvia, Rita, Dwight (Elizabeth), Rickey (Sharon), and Wayne; 24 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.