Maybelline founder Tom Lyle Williams

Showing posts with label Donna Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Donna Williams. Show all posts

Overcoming the loss of a loved one, is the hardest thing we'll ever have to do. In memory of Donna Williams, and Chuck BB1, Williams

Chuck Williams, BB1

Donna Williams 


As some of my followers know, I lost my sister, Donna Williams and my cousin, Chuck Williams, BB1 this past year and though I keep putting one foot in front of the other, it's still very hard to go on without them. It's easy to act like life is the same, act the same, show up and look the same, but inside my heart and soul, things aren't the same. A big part of who I was died with them, and has forced me to reinvent myself. My fear is, who will I be and will I like my new self. Will other's accept I've changed and will I even care about the things that were once so important to me. 

 My sister, Donna especially, sometimes Chuck as well, come to me in dreams and I don't want to wake up. When I do wake up,  I  remember their gone and relive their deaths, (both of Cancer) once again. I keep combing through every step I walked with them to see if I could have done something different to save their lives. I think I've been in "shock, denial," for months. Then I slip into anger.

I'm Angry they left me alone, angry I couldn't save them, angry at God, angry at life, angry and disillusioned. Separation anxiety and guilt cause me to break down and cry when a song that reminds me of them comes on the radio. I definitely feel them with me from time to time. I get little messages that they are around me sending me love, strength and the will to live and enjoy my life. But, they were my main support system, so losing them has stripped me of my normally confident persona, and left me being a scared child with a hole in my heart.

 It's as if I lost my mom and dad, my best friends, my best halves. They are Saints in my mind. I can't remember all the things that drove me crazy about them, just the wonderful times remain. I don't think of them being sick, no, they are who they are when they were young and beautiful. That's who I miss in them, the parts that remind me of who I was when we were all young and beautiful. I know I will see them again, I know they are just in the other room, just over the horizon, just on the other side of the curtain. But, I miss their Charisma, laughter, sarcasm, cool, hep, always with it selves and that is something I can't bring back.

  If anyone can relate to a loss of a loved one, parent, husband, wife, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, best friend, co worker, neighbor, Church member, or especially a child. My heart is with you dear ones, I know what your going through and I wish all of us peace, well being restored and our hearts mended, so we can recover and go on and do what we were put here to do. Love to you all.

Sharrie Williams Author of the Maybelline Story.

Sharrie Williams, Chuck Williams, BB1, Donna Williams

Original Maybelline family descendant, Donna Williams, passed away January 2nd. 2018



0n January 2, 2018, my beautiful sister, Donna Jean Williams passed away in her Dana Point home after a year long battle with cancer.


Donna was born, March 24, 1949, in Santa Monica, California and grew up in Culver City, CA. An original descendant of the famed Maybelline family and MGM executives.


She attended Westchester Lutheran School, Linda Vista Grammar School, in Blair Hills CA, Notra Dame Academy, Culver City Jr and High School and finally Santa Monica High School and College.

Donna 1966
She loved surfing and got her first Dewey Weber surfboard on her 15th Birthday in 1964. From that time on she spent most of her time at the beaches in Santa Monica, where she hung out with a group of surfers  who represented Zephyr surfboard shop in surf competitions in the early 70's.



"The Z Boys" became a big part of Donna's life and she was there at the birth of skateboarding in Santa Monica and Venice CA. She was also interested in a modeling career and attended Patricia Stevens Modeling School and eventually became an extra in several films.

Donna with her cousins Nancy and Chuck Williams at her parents home on Lido Isle, 1971

in 1970's she lived in Marina Del Rey and enjoyed many endless summers as part of the surf generation. 

Donna and her brother Preston 1978
In the 1980's Donna began an active real estate career in Marina Del Rey . Eventually she transferred to the Dana Point CA office to be near family members. On a daily basis, Donna could be seen walking her popular poodle Lola at the Harbor. 
Donna in France on Bastille Day, 1972
Donna was a lifelong patron of the arts, world traveler, an animal activist, gifted gardener and a talented artist.

                                  "A true fashionista."


Donna and Lola 2016
In latter years she attained a business degree at Vanguard University and continued both her real estate and family financial consultant work for many years.

Donna, January 2017, right after being diagnosed stage one cancer.

 She possessed a delightful spark for life,
 full of creativity, humor and compassion enjoyed
 by all who knew her.



 She'll be especially missed by her sisters Sharrie
Lynn Williams, Billee Rae Williams,and her brother 
William Preston Williams lll.

Donna with Georgia, Craig, Rex and Kai, at her home, one month before her death

as well as her niece Georgia Youtsey, (Craig) grandnephews Kailer and Rex Youtsey and a multitude of friends, fans and colleagues.  

Donna with her sister Billee, and great nephews, Kai and Rex
A memorial party is being planned in the Spring.  Location and time will be posted soon. 

Sharrie and Donna Williams at Crystal Cove 2012

Inseparable. I will miss you until we meet again sweet sister. 


Venice Beach 80s

Never having children on her own, she was a second mother to my daughter, Georgia.
Donna 1980's Venice Beach roller skating





http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/latimes/donna-jean-williams-condolences/187822467?cid=full
Obituary in Sunday LA Times


Sharrie and Donna Williams at Culver City High School

Check out my ride in our Great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams 1940 Packard Victoria, convertible.



Maybelline Founder, Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 Packard Victoria

Tom Lyle with the 1940 Packard at his Villa Valentino, in the Hollywood Hills.


my sister, Donna Williams.


 me, cousin Chuck Williams, aka BB1 and Donna

                 
                 cousin Chick, with Steve Snyder, owner of VAULTCARS,


Owners of the Packard Victoria since 1971,
                            Bill and Jo Ellen Snyder.


 Sharrie, Chuck, aka BB1, and Donna


Donna and Sharrie, cruising in the Packard.



Two Generations of Maybelline cousin's, loved dressing up like Tom Mix and Roy Rogers - 1930s -1950s


Maybelline Cousins love Tom Mix in 193o's.

 The Cadillac Cowboy, Tom Mix, pulled in $17,000 a week in the 1920's and was every little boys, Western Hero.


 Bill Williams dressed like Tom Mix, with his new wheels, in 1930.


 Noel Allen Williams dressed like Tom Mix, with his famous white hat, 1930.


 Cowboy Noel, getting ready to shoot em up in the Old West with his cousin Bill, in 1930.



Maybelline cousin's, kid's,  love Roy Rogers in the 1950s.

 Maybelline Cousins in the 1950's - like their parents in the 1930's - loved to dress up like Cowboys and Cowgirls.


Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans were the King and Queen, of  Saturday morning TV, from 1951 - 1957,  most every girl and boy in America 
had their own cowboy or cowgirl costume.


Here I am at my 6th Birthday, sitting on my dad, Bill Williams lap - a little amped on sugar it looks like - with my little sister Donna, sitting quietly on our grandfather, Andy Mac Donald's lap, while my grandmother Elna - who never wore eye makeup - smiles for the camera.  Notice the Lucite coffee table, sofa and Hawaiian drapes.  They came from the Villa Valentino, after it was destroyed, when the Hollywood freeway took it in 1951. 


Trigger rides again, as Roy and Dale give a big Cowboy shout out, in the Old West.  In 1954, all I wanted was a baby sister and brother, while  Donna on the other hand,  wanted a horse, just like Trigger.

Sharrie and Donna, Cowgirls to the core.



My cousin's, Chuck, (aka, BB1,) and Nancy, Noel Allen Williams, kids,  were the little Roy and Dale, of the family, and like us, they were crazy about Saturday morning television, on those tiny TV sets in the early 1950's.


  During the early 1950's, Maybelline began showing Before and After, commercials, on network stations and it was a really big deal for our family when one came on.


I'm proud to introduce my sister Billee Williams new Blog "MEANDERING WITH BILLEE"







"MEANDERING WITH BILLEE"  http://meanderingswithbillee.blogspot.com/ click here

Billee Williams will take her visitors on little trips around the Palm Desert area and any place she might be wandering with her photographer/videographer, Mike. She will always be glamorously dressed and ready for her closeup.  It's a fun blog and I think you'll get a kick out of Billee's surprisingly addictive personality.  Take a look and see if you too, can't wait for her next post.

Friday, January 9, 2015


Meandering with Billee in Idyllwild California





Play with me in the snow in Idyllwild right outside Palm Springs Clalifornia

Thursday, January 8, 2015


Meanderings with Billee first post



Billee with her sister Donna and Sharrie Williams, 1976.  Look at Billee today, still as young and  beautiful.

Maybelline Christmas photos from my Childhood. get your free chapter of The Maybelline Story

1959,1960, 1965, 1967,  in Culver City California

Unk Ile, 1966


Unk Ile with my father, Bill Williams, and my little sister my Billee, in the background, Christmas 1959
Unk Ile, Tom Lyle Williams (fonder of the Maybelline Company,)         
with googly glasses and cap

My sister Donna, Billee and me in the Surrey.












My mother, Pauline was pregnant that Christmas and after three girls we were thrilled to have Baby Preston join our family the next Christmas in 1960.
William Preston Williams lll made our family complete and was the best gift of all on Christmas 1960.

Sharrie, Donna, Billee and Baby Preston 


We moved into our home on Lenawee in Culver City in 1956, the year it was built and uncle Lyle spent every Christmas with us here, through 1967, the year he sold the Maybelline Company.

We moved to Newport Beach in 1969 and sold the house on Lenawee in 1971.  Today, 56 years later it's still the cutest house on the block and carries all the special memories of Christmas our childhood and the happiest years of our lives. 

left to right, Sharrie, Bill, Tom Lyle, Billee, Pauline, Donna and Nana, Evelyn Williams and our little poodle, Pepsi. 
Unk Ile's last Christmas with us in 1967.  He had just sold the Maybelline Company to Plough Inc. and our lives were about to change forever. 

Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for following the Maybelline Book Blog all year...


Hey Everybody Happy Holidays! Enjoy my gift to you...a free chapter of my book, The Maybelline Story,


                 http://sharriewilliamsauthor.com/booksample/

Happy Holidays!

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To A  FREE Sample of My Book:

"The Maybelline Story"


A perfect gift for all readers who love TRUE STORIES full of love, glamour, beauty, power and family dynasties, set in a glorious vintage era.  Includes vintage photos and classic Maybelline ads, featuring some of Hollywood's most stunningly gorgeous leading ladies...

Enjoy!

 Sharrie Williams, Author

http://sharriewilliamsauthor.com/booksample/

I'm in the Middle of a great Giveaway! Get your free chapter of "The Maybelline Story"



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