Estella Theresa Williams

Estella Theresa Williams Mayers was born December 2, 1947 in Ancon, Canal Zone, Republic of Panama to (the late) Cecil Williams and Gwendolyn Mayers Williams. She graduated from the Secondary School of Paraiso in 1966, immigrated to the United States of America in 1971, and became a citizen in 1995.  Theresa gave birth to her only child Guinelle in 1974.

Theresa, as she was affectionately known to family and friends, worked as a Senior Police Administrative Aide for the New York City Police Department for twenty-two years until she retired in 2009. She worked in the Management Information Systems Division -- Time and Records Unit -- at One Police Plaza which suited her perfectly because she loved numbers. As a pastime, Theresa prepared tax returns during tax season. 

Theresa had many interests and hobbies over the years. She crocheted, completed word searches, crossword and Sudoku puzzles, read newspapers and magazines, collected movies and CDs, and shopped for any and everything.  The activity she was most passionate about was connecting and communicating with her family and old friends from Panama via Facebook.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Gwendolyn, and her brother Leonard.  She is survived by her daughter Guinelle Williams; her brothers: Ralston Kirton, Randolph (“Randy”) Williams and Cecil Williams; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, adopted family and friends.

and I so we could charge our phones in the bag.  The problem with the bags was it didn't even support our cell phones!   Or the four kindles she had in the cabinet.  I asked her why does she have four, and she said they were on sale.  My mother always bought things in excess in case someone else might need one.  My mother was the kind of person who always thought about how she could help someone whether it was something big or small.  My mom had a giving and kind soul especially when it came to her family.

My mom and I had a running joke when I visited her.  I would get ready to leave and my mom would say "Kiss your mother".  I would reluctantly go over to her and kiss her on the forehead.  She would laugh and smile with joy.  My dearest mother, here is my final kiss goodbye to you . . .  

I love you!

I had to hear "You should listen to your mother" for at least a year after my keloid developed. You know my mother never lets you forget anything.

My mom was a great cook.  Growing up, Sunday dinners always consisted of rice & peas, sweet plantains and stewed chicken.  By my teen years, I grew so tired of the same meal every Sunday so I asked her to start cooking something else.  However, she never listened and continued to cook rice & peas every Sunday and told me if I didn't want to eat it that was fine with her.  I didn't know how much her cooking meant to me until I went away to college.  I would call her and ask her to make Sunday dinner for my friends and I when we came home on vacation.  This year, in honor of my mother, I will have a vanilla cake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles on my birthday; this was the cake my mother baked for me each year until I went away to college.  My mom's cooking was her sharing a piece of her heart with you.

My mother loved music.  Our house was always filled with various genres of music -- from a Nat King Cole Christmas album to the Best of Julio Iglesias. My mother's favorite disco song is "Ain't No Stopping Us Now".  I remember her replaying that song on the record player while we danced around the living room of our apartment on Pacific Street.

Another passion of my mother's was shopping.  Growing up, it was Fingerhut and Popular Club because she was on a budget but she had graduated to HSN and QVC over the years. I would go to her house and find all kinds of gadgets and gifts she did not need. Like the solar-powered backpacks she bought for my co-worker

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