Linda Anne Williams

Linda Anne Williams, 76, of Grand Rapids, joined our world on November 14, 1948, and departed to be with our heavenly Father on April 9, 2025. Linda was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and wonderful friend to many who loved her dearly. She passed peacefully in her sleep the morning of the 9 th (at 9:11 am, which is in typical fashion for Ms. Linda, for whom everything with her was an emergency). She was surrounded by those in her nursing home who cared deeply for her, as well as a chaplain. 

Although Linda’s life was filled with many hardships from her health, she was able to experience great joy in so many ways over her earthly years. Though her health declined in the last 8 years, her spirit and love for Jesus, her family, and friends never wavered. Linda had a heart for the homeless community. Later in life, she was trained as a minister by her beloved Pastor David. It brought her great joy to pray over the homeless on the streets of Grand Rapids and provide them with God’s Word. In her last several years at Mission Point Nursing Home of Cedar Springs, she was always giving to others. It brought her great joy to have a “job” at Mission Point as an assistant to the Community Activity Director, Shelbie Marble. Linda enjoyed being a jokester. She loved making people laugh. Many describe Linda as a Wild Stallion. She was determined, sassy, stubborn, and independent, yet as beautiful as a wild horse running across the countryside. Through Linda’s ancestry of Native American Indian heritage, Linda greatly enjoyed attending the annual traditional GVAIL Pow Wows in downtown Grand Rapids over the many years of her life. Linda found great comfort and joy in music, especially gospel, traditional hymnal, and, as those who truly knew her, she loved her Barry White and soul music. If you truly listen, you can hear Linda singing our Lord’s praises in heaven now. Linda was truly called by Jesus here, showing kindness and love wherever she was led.

What brought Linda the greatest joy was spending time with her fiancé and best friend, William “Smiley” Jackson of Grand Rapids. Smiley took great care of Linda for many years when her health began to decline until she was placed in a nursing home. They spoke nearly every night on the phone, and when he had transportation, he would spend the day with her at Mission Point. 

Linda was most proud of her only child, daughter, Monica Kizziar of Rockwall, Texas. It was indeed hard on Linda for her daughter to be so far away, but they spoke often, and when Monica and her family were able, they would visit. Just hours before Linda took her last breath, she was able to speak to her, as well as Smiley, to tell them both that she loved them. She heard them both express their love for her. 

Linda is preceded in death by her father, Warren West (Grand Rapids); mother, Betty Cannon West (Grand Rapids); brother, Kim West (Grand Rapids); and brother-in-law, Claude Eugene Kelley (Wyoming, MI). 

Linda is survived by fiancé, William “Smiley” Jackson (Grand Rapids); daughter, Monica Kizziar and husband Rick (Rockwall, TX); granddaughter, Audrey Olsen and husband Kaleb with Linda’s great-grandson, Apollo Olsen (Crandall, TX); granddaughter, Lindsey Mitchell (Rockwall, TX); sister, Carol “Sue” Kelley (Wyoming, MI); brother, Anthony “Tony” West (Oklahoma); brother, Wayne “Lee” West (Belding); brother, Scott West (Allendale); several nieces and nephews, with those closest to her, nephew, Gene Kelley and wife Susan (Wyoming, MI), and, nephew Michael Kelley and wife Angela (Wyoming, MI). 

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Mission Point Nursing and Physical Rehabilitation Center of Cedar Springs and Linda’s care team there, especially that of the young lady who became like a second daughter to Linda and whom Linda loved very deeply, Shelbie Marble. As well, the following special team members, Ardell, Zaina, Terri, Vanessa, and Gina. In Linda’s final weeks and days in hospice, she was so well cared for by several nurses, but Monica wants to express her deepest gratitude to hospice nurse Gianna of Quality Care Hospice of Grand

Rapids. Her compassion and dedication to her mother made it feel as though Gianna was an angel on this earth who helped guide Linda to the stairway that led her Home. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025 from 10-11 a.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 6651 Scott St., Allendale prior to the 11 a.m. service the funeral home. Burial will follow at Rosedale Memorial Park in Walker, MI. 

Donations may be made in Linda’s memory to: 

Running Strong for American Indian Youth, which helps strengthen American Indian communities across the nation. With a focus on serving American Indian youth, they tackle complex challenges that stem from years of oppression and poverty (https://runningstrong.harnessgiving.org/donate) or Dégagé Ministries, which offers hope and opportunity to those facing homelessness and poverty in our community (https://degageministries.org/#donate).