Sharon Kelley Williams

March 13, 1980 - January 28, 2022

Sharon Kelley "Kel" Williams Sharon Kelley Williams, known as Kelley or "Kel", went home to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ, in the early evening hours on Friday, January 28, 2022, in Visalia, California, after complications from a year-long illness. She was born Sharon Kelley Williams on March 13, 1980, in South Bend, Indiana. The meaning of Kelley's full name (Princess Warrior Resolute Protector) rightly describes many parts of her character. Kelley was most definitely a diva, who would argue to the bitter end when she believed she was right and fiercely loved and protected those who were most important in her life. Kelley was a fish: all her life she loved the water, whether it was the ocean, a pool or the bathtub. Her mom tells a story of when Kel was a girl, insisting that she could swim when she clearly could not. She'd scoot herself into the shallow end of the pool, and her mom would pull her up from the bottom. This exercise repeated several times in a row, with Kelley sputtering water out of her mouth after being pulled up from the bottom of the pool. It took about five times before she admitted she could not swim. Kelley loved to reminisce about the past: favorite songs, movies and memories from recent and distant years brought her joy to share with family and friends. It was a special pastime of her and her sister. The last time Kel and her sister spent together in December 2021, they watched Sinbad's Brain Damaged concert from the early '90s and The Money Pit, an old Tom Hanks comedy from the mid '80s. Her friends' children were Kelley's delight. Not having children of her own, those kids, including some that are now adults, received all her love. She will always be tia or auntie Kelley in their hearts. She loved football. Her favorite team growing up was the Dallas Cowboys. She had the jacket, the beanie and anything else she could get her mom to buy. Her most loved football team will always remain the Oakland Raiders. When the Raiders announced their move to Nevada, where she had lived for a short time, she vowed to move back and get a job at the Allegiant Stadium! During her time in Nevada, Kelley started working for Williams-Sonoma in the Call Center. She worked her way up the ranks in a company with a lot of seasonal turnovers, transferring her job to Central California. During her 6+ years with the company, she gained a powerful ally in her work-mom, Arnita, who loved and fought for Kelley like she was "one of her babies." Kelley is survived by her adoptive parents, Deborah (Bill) Robinson and Carl Williams (Myra), her siblings, Anitra (Greg) Smee and Darryl Williams, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who miss her dearly. Carolyn Williams, Kelley's birth mother, predeceased her in 2020. Kelley was blessed with dear friends, several of whom she knew since grade school, that her mom and sister mention below, with gratitude for their love and devotion to Kel and their invaluable support during this time of grief and loss: o Delphina Linan * Heather Martinez * Rachel Uriarte o Angie Martinez * Crystal Ballesteros * Veronica Rodriguez As an adult, Kelley accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, under the teachings of Pastor Robert Charles. Her mom and sister find peace and comfort in knowing that Kelley is in the presence of her Savior (II Corinthians 5:1-8 NLT), while they grieve that she is no longer with them, along with the rest of her family and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held: o Saturday, February 19, 2022, 11:00 AM o St. John Missionary Baptist Church o 310 S. Blackstone Avenue, Tulare CA 93274 o Off-site Repast to Follow o Saturday, February 19, 2022, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM o PPAV Hall o 820 E. Main Street, Visalia CA 93292 In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Kelley's memory to Valley Children's Hospital, to honor her heart and compassion for children. https://www.valleychildrens.org/foundation/donate-to-valley-childrens