Obituary

Mildred Onley Williams

December 13, 1933 – September 13, 2025

Mildred Onley Williams, beloved matriarch and devoted nurse, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2025, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, at the age of 91.

Born in rural Montgomery County, Maryland, to Atlee and Katherine Onley, Mildred grew up alongside her big sister Betty as a spirited tomboy who cherished outdoor adventures with her father. Her parents instilled in her an enduring faith in God, an unwavering work ethic, deep family values, and a lifelong love of reading. When Mildred was an adult with her own family, she joyfully embraced her role as big sister to Joycelyn, Dawn, and Tonya after her parents adopted three young girls.

A trailblazer in her family, Mildred became the first to attend college, graduating in 1956 from Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her comprehensive training included clinical rotations at Brooklyn State Hospital and with the Bayonne Visiting Nurses Association. Over her distinguished 41-year career, she served as both a dedicated nurse and nursing instructor, touching countless lives through her work in hospitals, community health clinics, government agencies, and as a private duty nurse.

In 1957, Mildred married Daniel E. Williams, beginning their life together in Jersey City, New Jersey, before settling in Plainfield in 1967. Their loving marriage was blessed with three daughters: Denise, Michele, and Melanie. Ever committed to growth and learning, Mildred pursued graduate coursework at Seton Hall University and Rutgers College while working full-time and raising her family. Though she chose not to complete her own graduate degree, her unwavering support and countless sacrifices enabled her husband and all three daughters to earn their bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Her husband, Daniel, predeceased her on May 4, 2025.

Mildred’s legacy lives on through her surviving family: daughters Denise M. Williams Johnson, Michele A. Williams, and Melanie E. W. Bagby (son-in-law Shan K. Bagby); granddaughters Claire D. Parris, Alaina S. Parris, Faith M. Johnson (grandson-in-law Ojas Tayal), and Sydney K. Bagby; her sisters Betty O. Harper, Joycelyn Camper, and Tonya Benjamin; and a cherished extended family of relatives and friends whose lives she touched with her warmth, wisdom, and generous spirit.

Her memory will be treasured by all who knew her remarkable heart for service, her dedication to family, and her quiet strength that lifted everyone around her.

For a live stream of the funeral service, click here.