Georgiana Goodier Williams

Published 3:57 pm Thursday, April 17, 2025

Georgiana Williams and Mark Williams

Jan. 14, 1957 – April 15, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Georgiana Goodier Williams was born on Jan. 14, 1957, to George Goodier III of Dardanelle, AR, and Concetta Marie DiRienzo Goodier of Hornell, NY. She was the third of three daughters. Her older sisters, Diana and Kathy, remember her as a tomboy who loved to scare them by sneaking up with snakes and lizards she caught in the backyard. The family lived in Sedalia, MO, throughout her childhood, and she graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in 1975. During her junior year, a new family moved in down the street, and her mother soon reported there were two cute boys throwing a football in the yard. One of those boys turned out to be Mark Williams, with whom Georgiana soon started a relationship thanks to a blind date set up by Dan Knieval, a distant cousin of Evel’s.

After graduating from Smith-Cotton, Georgiana followed Mark to Natchez, MS, where his family had deep roots. They married in 1977. Having earned a secretarial certificate, she worked for the Natchez Board of Education, Callon Petroleum, and Deposit Guaranty Bank. She gave birth to two daughters in Natchez – Katherine Benoist Williams in 1979, and Anna Marie Williams in 1986.

In 1990, the family moved to Birmingham, AL, where Georgiana worked as a legal secretary for Harlan Prater at Lightfoot, Franklin, White and Lucas, then for Jarry Taylor at Maynard, Cooper, and Gayle. In 1995, Mark and Georgiana purchased a historic Spanish-style house on Ventura Avenue in the suburb of Homewood, and for the next twenty years, she delighted in decorating and remodeling her family’s home.

Georgiana retired early at the age of 50 and then tirelessly cared for Mark after his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease in 2014. She displayed amazing devotion, strength, and endurance throughout his illness. In January of 2025, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer. Devastated by her diagnosis, Mark declined quickly and passed away on March 3, 2025. She followed soon after on April 15, 2025, with her daughters and loving caregiver Bridgette by her side.

Georgiana was a witty, sharp, and talented woman, first and foremost a great cook who showed her love by preparing elaborate meals. She enjoyed hosting extended family for Thanksgiving and making her home elegant and inviting for many other holidays and occasions. She learned to sew in home economics class and made curtains for every house she ever lived in, as well as her daughters’ houses.

She was an animal lover who doted on the family cats, especially her darling Argo. She enjoyed watching Royals and Cardinals baseball and would never miss an opportunity to see her grandsons Will and Jay Hicks on the field. She loved to travel the world with Mark and was an avid researcher of her Italian ancestry. She was a Candy Crush “star,” a Jeopardy enthusiast, and a fiery political commentator. She loved crossword puzzles and scratch-off lotto tickets. Lionfish was her favorite video slot machine at the Golden Moon casino in Philadelphia, MS.

Georgiana is preceded in death by her father, George Goodier III, and her husband, Mark Williams.

She is survived by her mother, Concetta Goodier; sisters, Kathy Kelley and Diana Mattson; daughters, Katie Hicks (David) and Anna Williams (Joseph Chappell); grandsons, Will Hicks, Jay Hicks, and Jude Williams-Chappell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A small inurnment ceremony will be held for immediate family in the coming weeks, then there will be a joint memorial service for her and Mark on their wedding anniversary in October.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s or WBHM – the local NPR station Georgiana supported as a sustaining member.