Nancy Williams, longtime health care leader, dies

Nancy A. Williams, longtime leader of the Health Industry Council, died last Thursday. Below is her obiturary.

Nancy A. Williams, 69, of Colleyville, died January 16, 2014, at Baylor Hospital Irving after a courageous battle with cancer. Born August 6, 1945, in Gloucester, Va., she was a graduate of Emory and Henry College in Emory, Va.

For more than 20 years, Nancy led The Health Industry Council, a non-profit representing all aspects of the industry in the 12-county North Texas region, serving as president from1996 to her retirement. She deftly facilitated numerous local, state, national, and international projects, promoted business best practices and innovation, increased knowledge, and served as a catalyst for collaboration and creative solutions. In 1994 she organized the first of five global World Health Forum events addressing public health issues.

Prior to her role in health care, Nancy worked for various chambers of commerce; in residential home construction and real estate, and for the Macomb County, Michigan Department of Social Services as a volunteer in well-child clinics and geriatric support. While living in Michigan, she started Turning Point, a domestic violence program.

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She served as a board member of the Fort Worth Life Science Coalition; The Health Industry Council Foundation; Interlink, a quality work force planning organization; North Texas Commission; Tech Fort Worth; UNT Health Science Center Foundation Board; and Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County. In addition, she served on numerous advisory groups in the Metroplex including Champions in Health; Health Enterprise Research Center at UT Arlington; UTA College of Nursing; Fort Worth Chamber Workforce Board; and Medical Device Action Alliance. Among her many honors, she was named a “Great Woman of Texas” by the Fort Worth Business Press in 2011.

Nancy was also co-owner of Earl Williams & Associates, LLC, a remodeling company with her husband of 50 years, Earl Williams, Jr.

She is survived by husband, Earl Williams, Jr., of Colleyville; and sons Earl M. “Skip” Williams III and his wife, Ashley of Carrollton; Tim Williams and wife, Jessie, of Colleyville; and Michael Williams and wife Leticia, of Fort Worth; four granddaughters; and her brother, Eddie Allmond, and his wife, Brenda, of Gloucester, Va. She was preceded in death by son Andrew Edward Williams.

Memorial services will be held Friday, January 24, at 10 a.m. at Compass Christian Church, Colleyville, followed by a celebration of life at Las Colinas Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gatehouse in Grapevine, to help women and children in crisis: www.gatehousegrapevine.com.