Miss Maxine Virginia Williams, 71, a member of a prominent Battle Creek family and an avid art enthusiast, died January 6, 1974 in Community Hospital where she had been a patient for two days. She had been in failing health two years.

Miss Williams, who lived at 39 Woodmer Lane, was the daughter of the late George and Luella Rathbun Williams. He was the founder of the Williams House and adjoining business arcade on East Michigan Avenue.

Miss Williams was born here, but moved to South Pasadena, California, with her mother in 1917 after the death of her father. She completed high school in California and was engaged in the real estate and insurance business. She and her mother returned to Battle Creek in 1942. Mrs Williams died in June 1955.

Through the years, Miss Williams had been an active contributor to the cultural life of the Battle Creek area. She had made several donations to local activities. After Miss Williams returned from California she became interested in many civic organizations. She became a driver for the Red Cross Motor Corps and was chairman of the Red Cross dressing wrapper group. In subsequent years, Miss Williams had maintained her close ties to the Red Cross. She was the current secretary of the board of the Calhoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross. She was for many years a Gray Lady volunteer at Community Hospital and served as chairman of the group. Her art center activities were varied. Miss Williams was on the art center board of directors, chairman of the art center rental gallery and a past president, secretary and treasurer of the art center league.

In 1971, Miss Williams established a $5,000 scholarship fund at Kellogg Community College. She was a member of the First Congregational Church and was a member of the Battle Creek Country Club and the Battle Creek Rose Society.

Miss Williams is survived by nieces, Mrs Cone (Stephanie) Rice of Tyler, Texas, Mrs Henry (Helen) Arnold, Jr of Rumford, Rhode Island, and Miss Susan Rich of Lansing, and a nephew, Howard H Rich of Battle Creek.

Enquirer and News, Battle Creek, Michigan, January 7, 1974