February 13, 2016 

Funeral for Barbara Ann Williams Merrill, 82, of Hartselle was Tues., Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Hartselle with Dr. Tom Whatley officiating.

Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery.

Mrs. Merrill completed her journey home Saturday night, Feb. 13, 2016, at Princeton Baptist Hospital in Birmingham, surrounded by family after suffering from complications of pneumonia. She was born Feb. 6, 1934, in Birmingham to Burson and Ruby Williams. She loved dearly her sister, Dorothy Williams and her brother, Burson Williams II and his wife Lena. She never met a stranger and always felt at ease in conversation with a total stranger. She possessed a contagious smile and an entertaining sense of humor. Throughout her life she maintained a loving, nurturing simple demeanor that won the trust and hearts of many. Her signature gift of joy, shown through her constant smiling, laughter and singing, will never be forgotten.

After graduating from Woodlawn High School, she attended Howard University. Through the years, she worked as a secretary at Auburn University and was an entrepreneur, owning a couple of a ladies clothing stores in Athens and Decatur. After selling the store, she continued working in sales at Jimmy Smith Jewelers and eventually retired from Parisians in Decatur. She was the loving mother to three dear children, Bobby Preston Mattox, Vicky Mattox Chandler and Cheri Mattox Alexander. She was married to Dr. Charles Max Merrill, with whom she shared her final wonderful years of life on this earth. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister; a great-grandchild, Mattox Walker; and father-in-law, Reid Merrill.

Her surviving family members are numerous, but mainly include her husband, Charles Max Merrill, DMD; three children, Bobby and Kathie Mattox, Vicky Chandler all of Auburn and Cheri and Joe Alexander of Decatur; stepchildren, Mike and Karen Merrill of Sulphur, La. and Robert and Sara Merrill of Arkansas; eight grandchildren, Dustin Chandler, Nathan Alexander, Daniel Chandler, Ashley Mattox Walker, Casey Alexander and Lauren Mattox Miller, Gayle Merrill Benoit and Cora Merrill; great-grandchildren, Abigail Walker and Harper Benoit; Immediate family: Burson T. Williams, II of Birmingham; in-law, Gabriele Merrill; nieces, nephews and spouses Tommy Williams, Jennifer Williams Westhoven and Terri Williams Hallman and their spouses Paula Williams, Tim Westhoven and Ross Hallman.

Pallbearers were Dustin Chandler, Nathan Alexander, Daniel Chandler, Stephen Walker, Kaigan Miller and Burson T. Williams III.