Anna (Given) Williams

Anna Given Williams

Anna Given Williams who spent most of her life in Buckingham, PA passed away peacefully July 25th, 2020. Born February 5th, 1927, in Clendenin, West Virginia, to Janie Sanderson and Earnest Roscoe Given, Anna created a stir as a child with a poster she made on evolution that was displayed in the small town’s shopping district. She graduated from Clendenin High School and left to study fashion design at the Fashion Academy in New York City where she was the Gold Medal winner for her final project designs. She went on to work as a freelance floor model and also a designer for Handly Cross and Cline & Cline as a dress designer in the 1940s. 

February 11, 1950, Anna married Roger Williams Jr., an editor of Chemical Engineering magazine at McGraw-Hill Publishing, at Christ Methodist Church in New York City, and honeymooned in Bermuda. They resided in New York City and then rented a house on River Road in Pennsylvania until they bought Gladacres Farm in Buckingham in 1953, where they raised their four children, where her husband died of cancer, and Anna lived until her move to a retirement community at Givens Estates in Asheville, North Carolina. She met many of her lifelong friends while living at Gladacres that have meant so much to her and our family.

Anna was a traveler all over the world, even doing Tai Chi on the Great Wall of China. She was an avid collector. We used to say there wasn’t a leaf dish that she didn’t like. Anna was a connoisseur of style who was constantly at the sewing machine, sewing clothing for her children and often making costumes for her friends themed costume parties. Anna was an amateur artist who loved to paint and sketch, and she enjoyed the camaraderie, musicality, and pageantry of the Bucks County Opera Society. 

Anna completed counselling skills training and volunteered for years as an advocate on the Joint Participation Council of the Bucks County Association for Corrections and Rehabilitation for those incarcerated at the Bucks County Prison. She coordinated literacy help from community volunteers after finding out a high percentage of those in the system couldn’t read. When her children were old enough for her to go back to work, Anna rented space at The Yard in Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, to have her own fashion store, The Heather Shop. Later on she moved to a larger shop at Logan’s Square in New Hope and then opened a second shop at Buckingham Green, running both stores until she retired. 

Anna was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Jr., and her daughter Lynn Williams Zinchiak (Thomas) of Woodbine, MD. She is survived by her daughters Jan Williams Ritter (Richard) of Bakersville, NC and Valerie Williams Premo (Wayne) of Golden, CO, and son Roger Williams III of Ottsville, PA, her brother Ernest Given Jr. (Katherine) of Hurricane, WV, 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. 

Anna always tried to look on the bright side of life. She always wanted everyone to just get along and find joy in the day. True to her love of a good time with beloved friends and family, there will be a celebration in her honor at some time in the future. Wear bling! 

Our mother loved animals of all kinds, especially her cherished cats. A donation to your local animal shelter, or to the Bucks County Opera Association, PO Box 334, Holicong PA 18928,  in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.

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