Autumn Williams

On April 26, 2001, Autumn Mechelle May Williams was the oldest of two children born to Michael and Tracey Williams in Harvey, IL. Autumn’s younger sister is Amber Williams. Autumn departed this life on June 19, 2022.

Autumn was a curious child. She enjoyed learning and loved her family and friends dearly.  She was always positive, encouraging, and an inspiration to so many.

Autumn was well known for her kind and gentle spirit. Though her life was cut short at 21 years, she made the best of her time on earth by working hard to achieve good grades, raising money for Relay for life, and thinking of creative games and menus for her family’s annual gatherings.

Autumn attended St. Paul Lutheran school, where she decided she wanted to be an economist at an early age.  In 2015, Autumn graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School with the honor of class valedictorian.  Later that fall, Autumn started her next chapter at Homewood Flossmoor High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and enjoyed extracurricular activities such as Friends of Rachel and Student Government.

During Autumn’s junior year, she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare cancer.  Without skipping a beat, Autumn underwent over a year of cancer treatments and persevered through school.  During her treatment cycles, Autumn was a model patient. Nurses, residents, and interns often lobbied to treat her because she was a delight to be around.  Once there were no traces of the disease, Autumn moved through her Senior year of high school and was college-bound.

Before attending college, Autumn was gifted a wish of her choosing by the “Make-A-Wish” foundation, and she selected a trip to Greece with her family. After returning from Greece, Autumn landed her first job with the Community and Economic Development at the Village of Richton Park, IL as an intern.  In the fall of 2019 Autumn, began her next chapter at Loyola University Chicago, majoring in Economics.

Autumn enjoyed college life; she was an “A” student (of course) and, in 2020, was inducted into Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Gamma Pi Chapter. In 2020 Autumn’s cancer returned; however, she was determined to push through classes and reach her goals. In March 2021, Autumn became a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council; The Divine Nine and inducted into the Prestigious Women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Beta Chapter where she enjoyed time with her sorority sisters whenever possible. As a third-year Economics Student at Loyola Chicago, she continued to push through school until, sadly, there were no more online classes for her to attend at the university.  She was in the process of looking for online programs because she was unable to attend classes in person.

Autumn leaves to cherish her memory, both parents: Michael and Tracey Williams, Sister: Amber Williams, Grandparents: Michael and Geraldine Williams, Margretta McNair (Mack), Great Aunts: Maudester Fields (Hank), RoseMary King (Charles), Uncles: Mark Anthony Williams (Tammy), James May (Kim), Aunts: Robin McMorris (William), Francia Sherese Williams, First cousins: Jory Williams, Ravin McMorris, Angel Williams, and Mark Williams II, and hosts of “special aunties, uncles”, cousins, and friends.

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