Augusta “Gussie” Tibbs Williams, transitioned into the presence of the Lord on Sunday, August 13, 2017.   She was born November 4, 1928, in Huntsville, Alabama, to the late Dan Tibbs, Sr. and the late Pearl Etta Moore Tibbs. 

She graduated from Toney High School, Toney, Alabama; and in 1950, proudly received her bachelors in secondary education from Alabama A & M.   She later relocated to Fort Wayne, Indiana where she united in holy matrimony with the late Robert Williams. As an American trailblazer she was one of the first two African Americans hired by GTE.  She spent the majority of her professional career as an employee of General Telephone Company, starting as a switchboard operator and working her way up to supervisor and a regional trainer.  Upon her retirement, she returned to her first love of teaching by becoming a primetime classroom assistant at Lincoln Elementary School.  Unable to sit idle she began assisting at a local day care as a foster grandparent.   Throughout her life she served the community through various civic and community organizations, and as a devoted member of Pilgrim Baptist Church in its missionaries and choirs, in the roles of member, officer, and board member.   Her love for music began as a child singing throughout the South with her siblings.  Upon moving to Fort Wayne, she helped to organize two women’s gospel groups, and sang in various choirs within the church, often as lead.   She also sang and traveled spreading gospel music through duets with her husband.  Augusta had a strong will to live, love, and give, and spent the majority of her life helping and supporting others, including fostering three children into her mid 80’s. 

Augusta leaves to honor and cherish her memory, her four children:  Hollis Hayden, Sr., Debra Faye Williams-Robbins, Daryl Williams, Sr., and Robert “Fritz” Williams, Sr., 32 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, one sister, Dorothy Booker, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.  

~ She will be laid to rest with her husband in Covington Memorial Gardens ~

 Service Information