You’re dearly missed .

Aunty Grace may your soul continue to rest in peace. You will indeed be forever missed.

Aunty Grace it’s been one year since you left us, we missed you continued to Rest in Perfect peace.

Claudine, Roxy and Kevin, our deepest sympathy for the loss of Aunty Grace. She impacted a lot of lives positively. Her students, their parents, her staff and the Freetown community are living testimony of this.

Personally for us we remember her visits to Toronto and the great time we had with her and how she was with David, Daniel, Diana and our own kids.

Her legacy lives on. We pray that you revel in the great memories you have of her and take comfort that she lived her life in God's way.

We will miss you Aunty Grace. Rest in Peace

Jones-Stanley Family - Toronto

May Mrs Williams beautiful and blessed soul continue to RIP! You were such an inspiration to society! You were an educator and you taught so many children, by opening a school! Sleep and take your rest ma! It's someone like you that we need around us to bring that positive attitude to life
You are and is always loved
Rest in peace with your maker
From Doreen Conteh
Secretary General of SLESAO
Friends of Anthony Massaquoi vice chairman of SLESAO

Thanks to you Mrs Williams, as I fondly called you, for instilling in me a sense of discipline and making me who I am today. For every child, the formative years of primary schooling is so critical to success, and that you delivered on so well. May your dear soul RIP and may Allah (God) grant you Al-Jannah-Firdaus (the heavens). Yours was a life well spent and a call to serve humanity so excellently delivered!

Aunty Grace may be gone, but nothing can take away the fond memories we all have of her kind, ever smiling, soft spoken and beautiful soul.

We, take solace that your work on earth is done and you have joined the Heavenly hosts where there's no pain or sorrow.

"When the day of toil is done,
When the race of life is run,
Father grant thy wearied one,
Rest forever more".

Good night, Good night, Good night.

Victoria Bartels (Lagos, Nigeria)

Our Aunty Grace was full of charm and, yes, grace :)
Ever smiling, she exuded sweetness and had the most gentle demeanour. I sure will miss that smile!
The fact that she successfully raised a family and founded an elementary school speaks volumes about her innate strength too. She will always be fondly remembered in our hearts.

We will mourn but not as those without hope. We know that this earthly loss is Heaven's gain.

Good night dear Aunt. Rest in perfect peace with your Saviour!

Life has its ups and downs but my sister made it through, as a loving mother of three children and a number of adopted kids. With years of hard work and commitment, Murray Deen Preparatory School provided quality education for boys and girls who now have succeeded in all walks of life. It was an honor to serve as a member of its board in the nineties.
Even though the rebel war separated us, we were always in contact with each other.
Your span of life has ended and it’s hard to say goodbye but you have left the family something to be proud of; Murray Dean.
Rest in peace Twintina
Your sister, Nellie and family.

Darling Aunty Grace,

My beautiful Godmother, thank you for being a calm, supportive and ever-present woman in my life. The news of your passing has been a blow and it has taken me some time to formulate the words to express how I feel in between tears and extreme sadness. There are just some people who you expect will always be there and you were one such person. It feels unfathomable to think I will never hear your voice again. You always took time out to check on me, to see how I was doing, to ask after my health and well-being. Every birthday, you sent a birthday card or I got a call from you. I remember walking on the beach a few birthdays ago just chatting to you about life and goals. You never forgot about me even during these recent tough times. For that I am truly grateful. Thank you for naming me, I hope to continue to uphold the essence of your name, Grace.

You made primary school a place I wanted to be, so much so, I would always get there earlier than I needed to be. You taught me the importance of education and excelling in everything I do. I hope I never let you down. You had such a good heart and like your cousin, you cared a lot about people. You changed the lives of so many children at Murray Deen, moulding us into accomplished and successful adults. Because of that, we will continue to shine a light on your legacy for generations to come. As with the promise made in our school song, so too shall I make sure I play my part in saying:

This bright light of Aunty Grace, I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, all the time let it shine 

My deepest condolences to my cousins Claudine, Kevin, Roxy and the rest of the family. Take heart. God knows best.

I am truly going to miss you Aunty Grace. I know you’re now at peace, safe in the arms of The Almighty. Rest in eternal peace

Your Goddaughter,
Your forever Head Girl,
Your Niece,
Olusanya Grace

Aunty Grace, a woman of substance, loving, kind, gentle, caring and always with a beautiful smile. You were not only a mother-in-law to my sister but a mother to us all. I can never forget the beautiful and scrumptious lunch you laid out for me when I visited Sierra Leone in 2009 and 2015. You said to “eat o and what you can’t eat you will take away” . May your loving memories always live in our heart. You will be immensely missed by us and all the lives you’ve touched. Rest in Glory.

From Violet
TRIBUTE TO MUM.
        BY
VIOLET, EMMA LAMIN

FOR EVER WILL MY MOTHER BE A SONG OF COMFORT IN MY HEART, SHE WAS THE DEFINITION OF HAPPINESS AND BOUNDLESS GRACE. GRACE TWINTINA WILLIAMS HAS DONE HER GOOD WORK ON THIS EARTHLY PLANE AND HELPED INNUMERABLE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE FROM ANYWHERE IRREGARDLESS, THEIR BACKGROUNDS.

I HEAR A SONG IN MUM'S OWN SUBTLE RHYTHMIC VOICE THAT HAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE AT PLAY. THE TIME HAS ARRIVED FOR MUM TO LEAVE THIS BASE FOR A KINGDOM OF UNIMAGINABLE BEAUTY, HAPPINESS, CALM AND AN ALL ROUND SPLENDID PLACE.

I MAY FORGET THE WORDS TO THE SONG AS MY MIND SLOWLY GETS DISPLACED BUT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE TUNE THAT BEGINS WITH "AMAZING GRACE", NEVERTHELESS I WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE AND TELLING THE MOST AMAZING TALES, BUT GOD'S TIMING IS THE BEST AND NOW YOU WALK THE LONG STAIRCASE TO MEET HIS HIGHEST GRACE.

MOTHER, SLEEP WELL AND REST IN PEACE IN THE LORD'S HOUSE.
"LOVE YOU FOREVER" TILL WE MEET AGAIN.

Tribute from Anthony Massaquoi.

As a philanthropist Grace gave full scholarships to some students who attended Murraydeen Preparatory School – and I am one such recipient.

In memory of her philanthropy I am pledging $2000 for a Grace T. Williams Foundation to honor and continue her legacy to support underserved children who will acquire quality and well-rounded education at Murraydeen.
She ensured quality and a well-rounded education incorporating academia, socials skills, decorum, dedication and ethics that formed the foundation of many pupils and ex-pupils

As her adopted son she provided me with academic resources that formed an integral part of my life…resources that exposed me to our home Freetown, how Freetown came to be, about the diverse population – the indigenous peoples, the Nova Scotians, the Maroons, The Black Poor, about the hinterland of Sierra Leone, the various tribes, the migration of peoples across the African continent, the spread of religion, The African Traditional Religions, Islam, Christianity and the amazing inter-faith tolerance the was woven into the fabric of our society by our ancestors that has caused us to co-exist with religious tolerance and freedoms.
We had daily issues of local newspapers – The Daily Mail, We Yone, New Citizen, Standard Times, amongst the myriad of publications that circulated in the Mid-Eighties to Early-Nineties. We had weekly publication of West Africa that reported on Africa and the rest of the world. She encouraged me to read these publications and we had healthy discussions about current affairs in Sierra Leone, the West African sub-region and the rest of the world. She awakened a consciousness in me - a light that has kept burning since that time in me.

She was a very brave and courage woman and did not allow anyone to intimidate her. I remember one day at Murraydeen, a certain gentleman driving a Black Mercedes 500, who was very well connected to the ruling government at that time had a verbal altercation with her, and the big heavy-set man loomed threatenly over her as he verbally assaulted her, she held her ground and retorted with a rebuke about his unseemingly behavior, he later stormed off and I looked at her with new found respect at her bravery and amazing choice of words to deescalate the situation and at the same time cutting him down to size with articulate language that confused and infuriated him and forced him to leave with his tail between his legs…..She was always conscious about the enormous responsibility she bore and her influence in our community, and that a lot of people both old and young looked up to her as a role model in various capacities.

As I continued to live with her and read all the books in our mini library at home and the library at Murraydeen, I turned to reading Bill’s college materials, Kevin’s books, and Claudine’s academic materials.
Our relationship evolved to that of a scholar and her apprentice, and as expected we had differences in our perception of our society that was rapidly deteriorating as government workers were not getting their salary, teachers in public schools where not getting paid and this had given rise to several “go-slow” at the public schools. The “go-slow” phenomenon was one in which some public school teachers will go to their various schools and refuse to teach because they were owed up to several months of salary…. As the proprietress and headmistress of a renowned private primary school, navigating the responsibility of being in good standing with the Ministry Of Education and the government of the day and sympathizing with the plight of the public school teachers was challenging….and of course apart from the teachers who received no salaries, the other victims of this impasse was some of us in public secondary schools during those tumultuous times.
She masterfully navigated this volatile situation not without scrapes and burns as this caused a rift in our relationship, but with communication and time we mended our relationship and formed a stronger bond that lasted the entirety of her amazing life with us here on earth.
I am stronger, better, wiser because of her sole influence in my life, and I am forever grateful…May her soul rest in perfect peace.

From Elisabeth Nelson-Williams:-

Cousin Grace Twintina Olatilawa
Williams (née Nelson-Williams. You were one of Sierra Leone beautiful and gorgeous Daughter of the soil and one of its finest and proven Educator, Proprietor and Founder of the well established and over subscribed Murray Dean Primary School on the Western side of Freetown. As Head of this School you and your staff offered a broad and balanced Curriculum as well as catered for all Children at all level of the Primary Age group.

You were strict but loving and Kind. Children were taught to a high standard and were disciplined as part of their Learning experience and ethos of the School. The Children were loved and cared for and their Welfare was of paramount importance to you and your Staff. You saw that they were encouraged and helped them to work hard in order for them to achieve their individual potential.

Cousin Grace. Amazing Grace you Laboured, worked hard and lead well in both good and difficult time to improve and build up a secure place of learning environment for the Children and their Teachers. You were kind, loving and hospitable strong and supportive to those who needed help, you were also funny with those welcoming smiles. But that huge voice does come out when things are out of "order."

Cousin you lived and loved the Children and staff of your School. You will indeed be missed by them and all the hundreds that have been taught at the Murray Deen institution of Learning.

COUSIN Grace your legacy will live after you and I pray that it's foundation will continue to stand strong as a Primary School with positive results.

You were asked by your Grand Children what you would like as a present for your 82nd birthday, what you would like for your Birthday?

 Your response was that of great wisdom especially at this time of family difficulties and divisions world wide.

Good health is important and vital for us to live a fruitful life. We need God's provision to maintain our healthy well being. Peace is God's best for us. The peace that comes from God and passes all human understand that is experienced even in sickness and pain with the confidence that God is with us and loves us best. 

Harmony in the family is what God wants for his Creation. It is God who puts us in our Primary family. He loves and cares for every member of the family. He knows us and we must be real. He wants us to be united and not be divided. We are responsible and accountable to him at the end of time for our role we played in our filial family life. We will miss you Cousin Grace. I am Grateful that you saw and enjoyed your heart desire for family harmony and peace before you were called home.

My thanks to our Father God that we saw each other when you and Leslie came for Ernest's funeral. I visited you and we spent hours of fruitful family time chatting and last year when I went home both you Cousin Grace and Leslie invited me for Dinner in the afternoon and Evening respectively which was accepted and little did we know that less than a year both you Cousin Grace and Leslie, your favourite Nephew will be called home to a better place free from pain and sorrow. May the souls of the departed rest in. Peace.

I am also giving God thanks that your life will be Celebrated for all you have been to your Children and those you cared for relatives and friends as a well respected citizen of the Freetown Community and for your services in Education and Learning in Sierra Leone. Indeed you will be forever missed by all you loved and all who loves you. Good bye Cousin Grace and rest in peace. Amen.

"Strict but kind" Cant seem to get that out of my mind. That's what she was to me as a child.
"Strict but wise" was what I next realized.
"Wise and kind" was kept me close by in presence and in mind.
Sleep well, memories plenty, our dear Aunty Grace, The smile, the hat, the gown, the laugh.

You are loved by your family and friends and will never be forgotten. May your soul Rest in Peace, Amen.

May Aunty Grace’s gentle soul rest in perfect peace in God’s kingdom.

To Claudine and her family i just want to sympathise with you and your family. May God give you peace in your heart and find a way to encourage you to know that mum is in a better place where there is no more pain. It is well my dear. RIPP. you stay blessed and look after yourself at this time

My abiding memory of Aunty Grace was how gentle and thoughtful she was in everything she did and how much she loved children. She did so much good for so many people with those qualities, always ready to help and gently guide. May she rest in peace. All my sympathies with her family for this great loss of the family matriarch.

Dear Aunty Grace,

Thank you for your unconditional love and for opening your doors for us to live in your house when we were in crisis. I pray God welcome you warmly in His house as you did for us.

My little interactions with you were always comfortable, as you exhibited sincere love and care. May your beautiful soul rest in perfect peace. You will forever be missed. Rest now, in the bosom of our Mighty God. 

It is well...

Aunty Grace i first met you over 35 years ago and my great impression of you was the same till the last time we met. A beautiful person soft spoken kind and passionate about her children and this waseven passed on to their friends. Claudine Roxy and Kevin are indeed blessed to have had you as their mum. May your gentle and peaceful soul rest in perfect peace

Aunty Grace, I met you on a few occasions and it was like we had known each other for years. You were a concerned mother, mother in law, grand mother and friend during a visit to London when there was an awkward situation and I believe your demeanor was not a one of; it was you, a concerned Aunty Grace. Your memory will live in all who met and knew you. May you RIPP. 

Sleep in Peace Mommy Grace. You will be dearly missed.

May you rest in perfect peace. May your sweet memories comfort all that know you and the countless lives you touch.

You were a woman of substance, gentle but firm. You will be truly missed. I pray God grants you eternal rest in his kingdom Take you sweet rest amazing Grace x

My dear Mother-in-law we are saddened by your passing and heartbroken 
that you are no longer here with us. We were looking forward to spending our favourite holiday (Christmas) with you next year. A promise we made to Diana when she turns 10. We will surely miss you but cherished all the sweet memories we shared and hold them dearly in our hearts.
Aunty Grace you were the best Mother-in-law any daughter would ask for and was blessed to have. Your three years battle with cancer ended on April 29, 2021, your voice became still I only wish God will have spared you for a few more years to spend more time with your Grandchildren.
I’m grateful for all the time we spent over the years. Most memorable thank you from the bottom of my heart the support you shown to my Dad in my absence when he was alive. I’m going to miss your quite voice and our chat over the phone to which our conversation always starts with your grandchildren.
We love you forever and will miss your caring, grace, quite strength, patience and mostly your love which you passed down to your son and I know because your grandchildren and I are fortunate recipient of that love.❤️
Thank you mom-in-law, Grandma you now Rest In Peace with the Lord.

I never wish a day like this would come, if I could ask for anything in this life, it will be for Aunty Grace to come back and live for many more years.

On October 18th 2006, I officially met Mrs. Grace Williams at her office in Murray Deen preparatory school when she told my dad she wanted to see me. Not knowing that my case has been discussed and settled by my father who was very close to Mrs Grace Williams. I happily rushed to her office. Sitting directly in front of her, she asked me “ so when are you coming over to stay with me?” I was surprised because my dad did not explain anything to me. So I pulled myself together and replied “ when do you want me to come ma?” and she said tomorrow. But the next day was my birthday so I pleaded with her that I spend my last birthday with my family and promised to move over on the 20th of October which was on a Friday.

So on that fateful Friday evening, my mom packed my bag and dropped me over at Congo Cross where she stayed with a young girl called Sarah. That night I cried a lot, not because of the relocation but because I knew I was going to miss my family, little did I know that I was walking into another family, I was re-born to a loving and affectionate mother, who loved, pampered, took care of me, protected and gave me all the support a child could ask for.

Auntie Grace, as I used to call her, was a mother to me, all the years I spent with her she never made me miss my biological parents for a second because all the love I needed was right there in her humble home. On Sundays and mid week we will go to church together, early in the morning she will wake us up for prayers, either me or Sarah will lead choruses and she will share passages from the Bible. Whenever am sick, she will come to my room several times during the day to see how am doing and to make sure I take my medications. I remember When we moved to Her house in Murray Town in 2007, I had an accident, I fell from the back step with my head down. That fall left a scar on my left chin which Aunty Grace would come to see every morning if the area is healing. She would come with a cup of tea in her hand for me.

Aunty is a kind of woman who is very sensitive to all our problems, and will respond to them without your permission. She was a very kind and generous woman. She was fair and just in all she did just like the saying goes “what is good for the goose is also good for the Ganda “. She knows no color, tribe or tongue. What she does for one she does for all. If I could describe Aunty in one sentence I would say she was a LIGHT, that shined so bright for all to see. Her light will shine on you in a way that it does not only affect you but also your entire family and relations. I cannot conclude here without mentioning that Aunty Grace played a major role in my family, all my brothers and sisters are a living testimony that we are the men and women we are today because of the maximum support she gave in every way. When my family was going through a crisis period She will give advise and words of encouragement to my mom and dad.

Aunty Grace has so much respect for all, young and old, rich or poor. She doesn’t like to see anyone hurt, Even if she’s angry sometimes, she manages her anger in a way that you will be surprised to see that anger turned into a sweet smile.

I am going to miss her dearly, a rare gem, my mentor, advisor, teacher, mother and friend. It’s really not easy these days to come home from work knowing that you are not there to welcome me and ask me how I spent my day. I will always love you Aunty, sweet memories of you will forever remain in my heart. All the virtues and things you taught me will remain a true legacy. Thank you for making me the woman I am today. Thank you for loving me as your own.

Rest well my mother, I know you are shining down on us from heaven. Till we meet to part no more. Rest in perfect peace, Amen!

Aunty Grace as everyone fondly called her be it old or young....All these years when I was growing up aunty Grace has always been part of me or my family especially my dad...Aunty Grace was his (my dad) favorite human on earth....my Dad ensured I went to murraydeen preparatory school irrespective I already started tower hill kindergarten school (my mum's family legacy) ...in his word...u nor go be Nelson-Williams and dae go oda school....At murraydeen it was a bitter sweet because I enjoyed my stay there and most times I got so much treats etc because iam a grand child of aunty Grace and also if I get into trouble...my complaints will be there before I even get home....I will miss her but again she's with her best friend( my dad)...my dad could be on the fone for hours speaking to aunty Grace and when he became a board member...their relationship grew stronger....aunty Grace will always be the first he calls to speak to about anything concerning the family....we will surely miss her radiant smiles and soft spoken voice....even writing this brings back so many tears and memories of them both, especially my dad(Leslie)....both will surely be missed.... May the souls of all that has faithfully departed through the mercies of God especially the soul of aunty Grace and Leslie continue to rest in peace. Amen

Grace,
Those special memories of you
will always bring a smile.
If only I could have you back,
for just a little while.
Then we could sit and talk again just like we used to do,
you always meant so very much and always will do too.
The fact that you're no longer here will always cause me pain,
but you're forever in my heart until we meet again.....
Your dearest friend and Sister,
Pat

Missing Our Wonderful Mum
Today and Always


You tended me and watered me,
And weeded out adversity,
You gave support, watched as I grew,
And helped my dreams to blossom too.

You gave me roots and gave me life,
And if I ever caused you strife,
Your gentle heart was swift to pardon,
All was lovely in your garden.

And so this message comes today,
As I can't think of a better way,
To thank you for those happy hours,
Than with fragrant, pretty flowers.

Loving You, as you rest peacefully,
Today and Always ☮️☮️