Eileen Marie Williams (February 14, 1947 – April 6, 2026)

With hearts full of sorrow, we announce the passing of Eileen Marie Williams who, unafraid and with an open heart, peacefully left us in her sleep at home on April 6, 2026. A woman of extraordinary beauty, strength, kindness, gentleness, and grace, she lived a life of 79 years to the fullest. Known for her beauteous smile and her humorous wit she always lit up every room she entered.

Eileen was born in Wilkes-Barrie, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1947, but lived the majority of her childhood in Daytona Beach and Miami. After graduating from Wheeling College in Wheeling, West Virginia, she began her “work life” by teaching high school English in West Virginia and later in New Jersey for several years. While her methods of managing a few of her students in the classroom would certainly be frowned upon by school administrators in today’s world, she was remarkably effective in controlling the educational environment so her students could learn and enjoy what she was teaching.

Her students accepted her creative teaching methods wholeheartedly and many, even some who failed her class, requested that they be placed in her class again the next year. Her success in the classroom was ultimately recognized when she was named Teacher of the Year.

Eileen‘s second “work life” led her to a successful career as a manufacturer’s representative for Pulaski Furniture Corporation. There, she called on and sold products, including Ridgeway grandfather clocks, to her furniture store customers throughout the State of Florida. On two occasions she was named “Salesman of the Year” (“Salesman” is not a typo) for the State of Florida. She was the first woman at that time for the Pulaski Furniture Company ever to receive this award.

In 2005, Eileen met LaRue Williams and they were married in 2008. This led to Eileen‘s third “work life” as a realtor specializing in handling real estate in the Halifax Plantation area until her semi retirement in 2023. She often became friends with many of her realtor customers.

Eileen’s fourth “work life” was not supposed to be “work” but ended up being what she called “a full-time job of taking care of LaRue”. At this semi-retirement stage, she enjoyed planning and cooking extraordinary meals, gardening, attending Florida Gators football and basketball games, spending weekends at the Williams’ lake house, traveling to the mountains, attending yoga classes, and continuing to play golf weekly with the Halifax Plantation Niners. Her 15 years of golfing with the Niners (including one year serving as President), was something she always looked forward to. She always said the best part of the Niners was not the golfing but socializing with the ladies especially at lunch after golf.

Eileen is survived by her husband of 18 years, LaRue Williams, his son, Drew Williams, and Drew’s children, Storm and Marina Williams; her siblings, Allan Darby (wife Kathy) and Diane Darby Wagner; Allan and Kathy’s children, niece, Kimberly Kay Darby, and nephew, Phillip Allan Darby; and sister Diane’s children, nieces Lauren Giometti, Emily Giometti, Jillian Giometti and nephew, Nick Giometti. She is preceded in death by her parents, George William Darby, Sr. and Katherine Kay Smith Darby; brother, George William Darby, Jr., and stepson James (“Jimmy”) Williams.

A Celebration of Life for Eileen will be held on Friday, April 17 from 3 to 5 PM at the at Halifax Plantation Golf Club – Banquet Room, 3400 Clubhouse Dr., Ormond Beach, FL 32174.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to one of Eileen’s favorite charities, either Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Volusia Branch, 320 North St., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 or Family Renew, 810 Ridgewood Ave., Holly Hill, Florida.