Natalie Purdom Williams Was Organist, Instructor

Natalie Purdom Williams, age 88, of Elkin, N.C., died Thursday, April 8, at the Hugh Chatham Nursing Center.

Mrs. Williams was born Feb. 27, 1916 in Blackshear, Ga., to Archibald (Archie) and Mildred Inslee Purdom. Mrs. Williams was a lifelong summer resident of West Tisbury. She played organs and violin for numerous services at the Rirst Congregational Church during the summer months. She often commented how heaven would be a lot like the warmth and beauty of Martha's Vineyard.

Mrs. Williams was a member of Elkin First Baptist Church, where she served as organist from 1952 to 1982, and was one of the original four founders of the Appalachian State University Music Department, Boone, N.C. She, Fran Greene and Nellie Ruth Irwin were the founding members of the community chorus. Mrs. Williams taught music at Booneville, Jonesville and Elkin Schools from 1950 to 1960, and also taught privately from 1955 to 1990, teaching more than 1,000 students. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Livingston Williams, and one sister, Cynthia Matthews.

Survivors include a son and daughter in law; John W. and Lynn Williams of Thurmond; a daughter, Mildred Williams of Elkin, and two sisters, Mildred Morris of Douglasville, Ga., and Jean Hiers of Las Cruces, N.Mex.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, at Elkin First Baptist Church by Dr. Bill Johnson, the Rev. Joe Dell Rust and the Rev. Mike Lane. Interment followed at Hollywood Cemetery. The family received friends Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Elkin First Baptist Church. Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Williams family.