Betty Woodlock Williams

1935 – 2026

Betty Woodlock Williams, 91, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, surrounded by her family after a long and well-lived life.

Born on March 12, 1935, in Waco, Texas, Betty was the only child of Oma Gerine Jones and R.E. “Jake” Woodlock. She grew up in Waco, spending much of her time in Mount Calm, Texas, where the family farm was located. Shortly after graduating from Waco High School, she married and started a family with Alfred Palmer “Fred” Williams, raising her sons Keith and Kelly in Waco. Though she did not attend college, she rooted for the Texas A&M Aggies, the alma mater of Fred, Keith, and Kelly. She did, however, take classes in tree care from Texas A&M so that she could properly care for all the Live Oak trees in Harris Creek Country Estates in Waco.

Family was incredibly important to Betty. She moved to Houston midway through life to be closer to loved ones. She was particularly proud of the years she spent working for her son Keith at his company, Gamma Construction. “Bet” or “Bett”, as she was known by her grandchildren, found her greatest joy in being a grandmother and great grandmother. No matter how old they got, she never stopped calling her grandchildren her “babies.” She spent much of her time caring for, protecting, and even rooming with them. She always had their back. One only had to walk through her house and see the countless photos of family to see that they were her pride and joy.

Betty lived an adventurous life. She loved to travel, visiting places like Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Dubaiover her lifetime. She loved to tell stories from the several years she lived in London (illegally) selling furs for a world renowned retailer. In Texas, there are many names for a woman like Betty–firecracker, spitfire, pistol. “Betty Bad Act,” as some friends called her, was a free spirit who liked to push boundaries with a wink in her eye and was never one to color inside the lines.

She was a fiercely loyal friend–once a friend, you were her friend for life. She kept bonds alive across any distance, and a long phone call with a dear friend was always a typical part of her day.

Betty is survived by her sons, Keith Williams (Julie) and Kelly Williams (Mimi); her grandchildren Blake Williams (Kendell), Lauren Alford (John), Jake, Preston, and Kelsey Williams; her step-grandchildren Madeline Wadsworth (Zach) and Mere Williams (Savannah); and her great-grandchildren Janalee, Beckett, and Eloise Williams and Harper, Landon, and William Alford. She was preceded in death by her parents Oma Gerine and R.E. “Jake” Woodlock, the father of her children Fred Williams, her daughter-in-law Jana Williams, and her grandson Stephen Williams.

The family is grateful to Yenis Reyes for the loving and dedicated care she provided in Betty’s final year of life.

“And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…I hope you dance.” 

– “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack