Janette Friday Williams
August 10, 1943 ~ December 3, 2025
Born in: Chestnut, Louisiana
Resided in: Waskom, Texas
Janette Friday Williams
On Wednesday night, December 3, 2025, our beloved matriarch of our family, Janette Friday Williams went home to her savior Jesus Christ.
The firstborn of Curtis and Mable Friday, her life began in a simple farmhouse on August 10, 1943, in Chestnut, Louisiana. Whether following her father with the mule plow or completing farm chores with her mom; her childhood was shaped by their values of hard work and resilient faith. The sudden loss of her father at age 12 would catapult her into a realm of responsibility and resolve.
Her dream to attend college was encouraged by her mother’s saying, “Where there is a will, there will be a way”. It was not easy but through sacrifice and hard work, she graduated from Northwestern State University with Honors. She went on to complete her Master’s degree and post-graduate certifications at Louisiana State University.
As an educator, she was a trailblazer during desegregation, as one of the first teachers in Caddo Parish to teach in integrated classrooms. Throughout her career she was committed to education in Title 1 schools. She wrote and developed the “I CAN” curriculum and served as the President of the Association of Professional Educators of Louisiana. Her quiet resolve and gentle persistence changed countless lives in the classrooms she graced.
As a wife, mother, and grandmother she was equally committed and steadfast. She married Ronnie Louis Williams on August 8, 1964, in Creston, Louisiana. Their love for the road was a lifelong pursuit from Harley riding in their youth to traveling across the country with their girls in their RV. Lovers of music, their home became a place of jam sessions and sing-a-longs.
Janette had a deep knowledge of politics, theology, and a love for her country. A master gardener, her home was surrounded with bursts of color from acres of lilies, roses, and azaleas she maintained herself.
Despite her many talents and hobbies, her greatest love and deepest companion was Jesus. Her heart was a vast well overflowing with scripture. She taught us that true faith is found not in human perfection, but in truly knowing Jesus Christ. She, like the rest of us was flawed in her humanity but she pointed us back to Him.
She is preceded in death by her parents Curtis Friday and Mable Smith Friday and leaves behind her husband of 62 years Ronnie Louis Williams, two daughters Julia and Jami, and three grandchildren Brennan, Luke, and Charlotte.
She once said that legacy is not what you have or do, it is who you are. Her legacy is immeasurable, and her life was a testament to grace, not flawless performance.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Joey Mayor and his Emergency Medicine team at Longview Regional Hospital and first responders for their valiant and compassionate care. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, Tuesday, December 9, 2025 in the Chapel of Rocket-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta, Louisiana. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 PM prior to the service. A private family interment will take place in Weaver Cemetery in Chestnut, LA. Local arrangements have been entrusted to Horn Family Funeral Home.
Services
Funeral Service: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 2:00 pm
Rocket-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
233 East Carroll Street
Coushatta, LA 71019
Visitation: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 1:00 pm
Rocket-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
233 East Carroll Street
Coushatta, LA 71019
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Janette was a dear mentor and friend to me back in the late 80s when we taught in public school together. She was a beautiful example of a Godly teacher. I learned so much from her. May her Legacy of faith live on in her friends and family. 🙏❤️🩹