Mary Elizabeth (Williams) Brightwell

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Brightwell, 101, of Henderson, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, October 19, 2012 in the chapel of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home with Dr. David Higgs and Rev. Bill Tisdale officiating. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home.Family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, October 18, 2012 at the funeral home.Mrs. Brightwell passed from this life on October 15, 2012 after a brief illness. She was born September 12, 1911 in the Sweet Gum Community to the late Napoleon Bonaparte "Polie" and Alice Bell (Hays) Williams and was a lifelong resident of Rusk County. Mrs. Brightwell went to school in the Sweet Gum Community until fifth grade, and then started school in Minden, where she rode to school in a buggy from the Sweet Gum Community. After high school graduation, she went to business school at Tyler Commercial College where she studied stenography and secretarial skills. Mrs. Brightwell worked at United Gas in Henderson, for the County Superintendent in the Rusk County Court House, and for Noys and Sandford Road Construction. In 1941, she married William Nathan Brightwell . Mrs. Brightwell became a homemaker and mother of two sons, Nathan L. "Buddy" and Michael Ray Brightwell. She was a member of the Henderson Women's Forum and First Baptist Church where she attended the Radio Bible Class. Later in life, Mrs. Brightwell enjoyed traveling with friends and family.The family would like to acknowledge her caregivers, Arma Faye Burnett, Kathy Steveson, Marretta Lynn Brown, Jessie Linthicum, Jean Mills, Galynn James, Jeremy Arrington, Assist Care Home Health, and her family physician, Dr. Sanford Ladage for their faithful service and special friendship over the past few years.In addition to her parents, Alice Bell (Hays) and N.B. "Polie" Williams, she was preceded in death by: husband, W.N. Brightwell; sisters, Lillias Deason and Addie Allen; brothers, Roy Williams and Robert Hays "Slick" Williams; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Williams.Survivors include: sons, Dr. Nathan L. "Buddy" Brightwell and wife Sandy of Colorado Springs, CO, and Mike Brightwell and wife Denna of Henderson; grandchildren, Todd Brightwell, Jason Brightwell, Angela Cliver, Keith Brightwell and wife Tammy, Kasey Shivers and husband Chris, Scott Bedunah and wife Liza, Kyle Bedunah and wife Whitney, and May Ann Brightwell; great-grandchildren, McKenzie Brightwell, Charity Ellis and husband Matt, Bella Cliver, Emma Cliver, Riley Bedunah, Allyson, Addyson, and Aiden Bedunah; great-great-granddaughter, Aubrey Ellis; and special friends and caregivers, Faye Burnett and Kathy Steveson.Pallbearers will be Keith Brightwell, Chris Shivers, Todd Brightwell, Jason Brightwell, Scott Bedunah, and Kyle Bedunah. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Griffin and Mike Holland.Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mary Elizabeth (Williams) Brightwell

September 12, 1911 - October 15, 2012