Georgia Ann (Williams) Fitzpatrick

 

Georgia Ann was born on May 12, 1948, to the late Deacon George Arthur and Mother Mary Mildred Williams in Birmingham, Alabama. As the eldest daughter of the family, Georgia set a very high standard for her siblings to follow.

 

 

Georgia Ann attended Birmingham Area City Schools, Council Elementary School and Jackson-Olin High School. During these years, Georgia became active in the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement. As a demonstrator, she risked harm and life to help ensure that justice prevailed for all. Georgia was identified as “gifted” at a very young age. She was taught to play the piano by the grandmother of the American Politician and Diplomat, Condoleezza Rice. As her oratory and academic skills developed, she won many awards during her elementary and high school years. As a debater, she traveled throughout the State of Alabama and other southern states with the support and backing of the late Multi-millionaire, Mrs. Minnie Gaston of Birmingham, Alabama.

 

 

Georgia Ann attended Tuskegee Institute where her first opportunities to travel abroad began. As a representative of Tuskegee Institute, Georgia traveled to Ghana, West Africa to assist in building a school, building wells for clean drinking water and in support of the educational needs of disenfranchised African children.

 

 

Georgia Ann received her Bachelor of Science from Tuskegee Institute with majors in Biology and Chemistry. After graduating from Tuskegee, Georgia saw an advertisement from the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzpatrick Kennedy, urging American citizens to serve their country through the Peace Corp. She signed up! Georgia Ann landed in Pleebo, Liberia, West Africa where she worked as a schoolteacher and served as a mentor to many. It was in Liberia where she adopted her daughter, Comfort Mona Ponpon Williams.

 

 

After returning from her service in Africa, Georgia Ann settled in Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as an educator at Walker High School and ministered in music as a singer with The Georgia Mass Choir under the recording artist and director, Reverend Milton Biggham.

 

 

Georgia Ann also earned her Master of Science Degree. She pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc. (AKA) and remained a faithful sister. She was the first to serve as AKA Bacillus in England.

 

 

While working in England, Georgia Ann met and married the love of her life, Alec Fitzpatrick. Together they worked tirelessly in Christian service to the church and for humanity at large. Their strong bond kept them through good times and challenges too.

 

 

Georgia was born into the Body of Christ at a young age as a member of 17th Street A.OH. Church of God under the leadership of the late Senior Bishop Jasper Roby. As an active member of the church, Georgia served in many roles including choir/soloist and pianist/organist.

Her life as a Christian Servant was so vast, it’s nearly impossible to list everything. A few highlights, but not limited to:

 

 

Service of Ministry: Elder at The Glorious Church International under the leadership ot Bishop Elijah Bryant of Ocala, Florida. First Lady of the Church of Sembach, Germany under the Leadership of her husband, Dr. Alec Fitzpatrick. They fellowshipped with The International Church of God in Vestavia, Musician and as part of the Pastoral Team of several churches abroad and specifically throughout Germany. In the United States, Georgia alongside her faithful husband, attended and ministered throughout several AOH Ministries including Hudson City AOH Church under the leadership of the late Overseer Nathaniel Lee, Mason City AOH Church of God under the leadership of Pastor Samuel Carter, occasional co-host of The Living Word Broadcast on WJLD 1400 AM, and at Ruth Bryant Memorial AOH Church under the leadership of Overseer Donald Chamblee.

 

 

Humanitarian Service: Georgia Ann was a great philanthropist, helping the poor and needy around the globe with a special emphasis on African youth, providing housing, meals, and scholarships to many. Georgia Ann volunteered thousands of hours teaching disenfranchised communities the required skills to improve their outlook on life.

 

 

Music Ministry: Georgia Ann loved Gospel music all her life! She formed an ‘a cappella group while in England and founded a multicultural group known as United Colors. Georgia Ann’s love of Gospel music combined with her musical talents lead her to collaborate with many legends of Gospel music throughout the years. One of Georgia Ann’s favorite songs to sing was Handel’s Messiah.

 

 

Georgia Ann was smitten with the travel bug; she had a strong yearning to work abroad. Joining the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS), her career took off, landing her in various countries for her entire career. Serving as an educator, Georgia Ann worked in Bamberg, Germany and in Okinawa, Japan as an assistant principal, In Kadna, Sembach, Hanau, Wuerzburg and Neubrucke, Germany as principal at RAF Croughton Air Force Base in England. Of the many awards she received, Georgia Ann cherished the DODDS Award for Person of the Year in 2008. After thirty-six years of service, Georgia Ann retired and returned to Birmingham, Alabama to care for her precious mother, Mildred Williams.

 

 

Following her retirement from DODDS, Georgia Ann became a published author, writing three books, “The Williams Family History”, “Shorts, a Young Girl’s View of Growing Up in Birmingham, Alabama”, and “Return to the Homeland”. Georgia was working on two other books at the time of her demise.

 

 

Christian worker, philanthropist, singer, musician, educator, author, multiculturalist, orator and Sorority sister/leader, Georgia lived an abundant life. She will be greatly missed by many.

 

 

Georgia Ann was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mildred Williams; a brother, Jerome Phillips; sisters, Carolyn Jane Williams Beal and Debra Jean Williams; father-in-law, Daniel Fitzpatrick; mother-in-law, June Fitzpatrick and sister-in-law, Yvonne Pittman Williams.

 

 

Her loving memories will be cherished by her husband, Reverend Dr. Alec Fitzpatrick; a daughter, Comfort Mona PonPon Williams; brothers, Arthur Williams and Harold Wayne (Brenda) Williams; sister, Pamela (Marlon) Wells; one aunt, Amanda Pope; sisters-in-law, Rosetta Haygood Phillips, Donna Williams, Angela Lund, Wendy Fitzpatrick, and Patricia Pylee; brothers-in-law, Shaun Fitzpatrick, Neil Fitzpatrick, and John Pylee; grandchildren, Clifton James Roberts, and Demetrius Roberts and four great grandchildren. Other survivors include nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of life-long friends.