Marilyn A. Williams (Phillips) passed away Tuesday May 31, 2022, surrounded by her family. Marilyn was born on August 26, 1955, in Marshallville, Georgia.
She graduated from Buchtel High School in 1974 and was employed by Kmart Corp. for several years. Marilyn left the workforce to raise her children, Nakia, Tasha and Bruce, Jr. She always had a great love for all children and was a mother figure to many of her children’s friends. Marilyn also helped with other children in the neighborhoods in which she lived.
Marilyn affectionately known as “Auntie” or “Auntie Marilyn” loved to cook and host family gatherings during the holidays for her family and close friends. She enjoyed watching her “soaps”, cooking channels and later experimenting on what she learned for her family. Sometimes it turned out good and other times not so much, lol, but whatever the results her Mother never complained.
She enjoyed traveling to casinos and attending family reunions to reunite with her aunts, uncles and cousins in various cities. Marilyn always enjoyed talking with her longtime girlfriends Ellen Neal and Sheila Wright, both of Akron, Ohio whom she respected and loved. She will truly be missed by all of her loved ones near and far.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her father, James Phillips; daughter, Nakia Phillips-Shabazz; step-father John Henry McCree and maternal grandparents T.J., Sr. and Malissia Miller and very special aunts and uncles. She is survived by daughter, Tasha (Sedrick) Reeves of Dallas, Texas; son, Edward Bruce Martin Jr.; mother Dorothy McCree, sisters, Carita Williams, Glenda Griffin and Shauna (Shannon) Alexander, all of Akron, Ohio, granddaughter Ava Lynn Reeves of Dallas, Texas; son-in-law Shamel Shabazz of Brooklyn, New York; special daughter, Twyla Johnson and children “the girls” Kamryn and Kayla Johnson of Dallas, Texas; nieces, Jasmine Baker, Kayana Alexander; nephews, Marcus (Whitney) Griffin, Kameron and Kaylon Alexander; great-nieces and nephews; step-sisters and brothers and a host of family and friends.