Avonelle (Brown) Williams

Avonelle Brown Williams was born on September 4, 1926 in the family home in Cuba, Ohio, the daughter of Howard and Hazel Brown. She passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026 at Ohio Living Cape May in Wilmington at the age of 99.  She had resided in Clinton County her entire life.

She graduated from Sabina High School, attended Wilmington College and the Cincinnati School of Music, then worked briefly at the WLW radio station.              

Her first date, a blind one with her eventual husband Wilbur Williams, was to a football game at THE Ohio State University, where he had been the Senior Football Manager in 1939.  From that point on, she was a die-hard fan of the Buckeyes!  

She was a loving, giving, devoted, family-focused farm wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend.

Avonelle was blessed with multiple talents and skills which she generously shared with others.  She possessed an engaging personality and made friends easily and quickly; definitely a “people person” who “knew no stranger.”

Her creative abilities encompassed composing poetry and writing new lyrics to familiar tunes.  She regularly practiced the lost art of handwritten notes and letters in her beautiful penmanship, and she was a gifted pianist and singer.

She was an amazing cook, having a fresh baked “surprise” treat right out of the oven every afternoon when her children came home from school.  Holiday celebrations and birthday parties were especially wonderful and delicious.

Her outstanding leadership abilities were evidenced by the fact that she held a variety of positions of authority in several organizations, not the least of which were the English Club, Presiding Judge at the Adams Township Precinct, and the Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal organization in which she had been a member for 78 years.  She was well known throughout the state of Ohio for her impeccable ritualistic work. 

Similarly, her organizational skills and attention to details were excellent.  It was said that she could organize an event whether it was for five, fifty, or five hundred and do it with ease.   

Avonelle was honored as one of the eight Outstanding Women of Clinton County in 2016.  “Volunteer Extraordinaire” was the title of the article in the Wilmington News Journal outlining her accomplishments.       

She is survived by her four children, Jane (Dick) Lane of Waynesville, Judy (Roy) Roush of Orient, Jim (Debbie) Williams of Wilmington, and Nancy Williams of Wilmington;  eight grandchildren, Camille (Michael) Kopczewski of Orient, Gretchen (Steve) Mossbarger of Washington Court House, Alissa (Joe) Huschart of Cincinnati, Jeremy (Jammie) Lane of Franklin, Becky (Chad) Moehl of Orient, Justin (Susan) Williams of Cincinnati, Lindsey Williams (partner Eben) of Wilmington, and Tara Williams (partner Benjamin) of Wilmington; sixteen great-grandchildren, Michael Huschart of Green Township, Jon (Sara) Huschart of Cincinnati, Joseph Huschart of Cincinnati, Tori (Austin) Fivecoate  of Middletown, Logan Mossbarger of Lima, Michaela Kopczewski of Orient, Maggie Huschart of Chicago IL, Chad Lane of Franklin, Melina Kopczewski of Orient, Reese Moehl of Orient, Adrian Moehl of Orient, Kendall Moehl of Orient, Emme Williams of Cincinnati, Emma Huschart of Cincinnati, Parker Williams of Cincinnati, and Jayd Tauro of Wilmington; two great-great-grandchildren, Leo Lane-Dixon and Elliott Fivecoate, both of Middletown; and niece Cathy (Jack) Fulda of Anderson IN.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Wilbur of 57 years, her brother and sister-in-law Gene & Louise Brown, brother-in-law and sister-in-law John & Barbara Ann Bay, sister-in-law Elaine Williams, and nephew Mike Bay.

Avonelle’s family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, gifts, and good wishes during her recent stay at TriHealth Clinton Regional Hospital and at Ohio Living Cape May.  We also are most appreciative of the Staff and Hospice Team at Ohio Living Cape May for their dedicated attention to her comfort and care.  

The family will receive friends from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Thursday, April 9, 2026 at the Wilmington United Methodist Church, 50 E Locust St, Wilmington, Ohio followed by an Eastern Star service at 7:00 PM.  The funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, April 10, 2026 at the Wilmington United Methodist Church.  Burial will be in Miami Cemetery, Corwin, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Avonelle’s memory to Miami Chapter #107 OES (Regenerative Medicine in Memo), P.O. Box 204, Harveysburg, OH  45032, or to a charity of your choice.

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