Betty Catherine "B.C." Williams

Betty Catherine "B.C." Williams, 96, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, October 3, 2021, after a short illness. She was born August 8, 1925, in Indianapolis, the daughter of Isaac William and Edna B. (Asher) Mills. On January 25, 1948, she married James H. Williams, and he preceded her in death on June 11, 1997. B.C. is survived by her sons, Chris J. Williams and wife, Christine Frakes, of St. Marys, Georgia, and Scott A. Williams of Lebanon; five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and one step-great-grandchild. In addition to Jim, B.C. was preceded in death by her parents and by her daughter-in-law, Debra Talbert Williams. B.C. graduated in 1943 from Arsenal Technical High School. During her senior year, as she would proudly explain, she was on the state champion debate team. She received her B.A. in English from Franklin College in 1947. She was the co-editor of the yearbook at Tech High School and the editor of the yearbook at Franklin College. B.C. was an avid birder, excitedly sharing her latest sightings with anyone she encountered. She had traveled the world, both with her husband and, years later, with her friend Richard Yarling. She read widely, conversed easily, loved crossword puzzles, and eagerly corrected grammatical errors. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville. B.C. and Jim were very active in the local Republican party and she was appointed by Governor Orr to serve on the board of trustees for the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund. She volunteered and served as a board member of Meals on Wheels, also serving several terms on the Shelby County Public Library Board. B.C. was also a member of the Indiana State Chapter P.E.O. and had previously served as state president. She was quite proud of the P.E.O. mission. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 A.M. on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church, 34 W. Washington St., in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 11 A.M. at the church. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shelby County Public Library, 57 W. Broadway, Shelbyville, IN, 46176, or to the First Methodist Church, 34 W. Washington St., Shelbyville, IN, 46176. Online condolences may be shared with B.C.'s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhhomes.com