Martha Young Williams, 97, passed away in Barrington on Saturday, March 4, 2017. She was the wife of the late Charles Roger Williams Jr. and daughter of the late L. Douglas Young and Louise (Gibbs) Young. 

Martha was born Nov. 3, 1919 in Providence, at home and was followed about 10 minutes later by her twin sister, Jean. They were fraternal twins. She attended Hope High School and then Lincoln School in Providence, graduating in 1939. She attended Bradford College where she was in the glee club, modern dance and played tennis but finally had to give up the dance and tennis due to a rheumatic heart. After college she attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. She became engaged to Charles Roger Williams, Jr. at that time and they married one year later. He was in the Air Force and after he returned from overseas during World War II, they moved to Burlington, Vt. and adopted a baby girl, Susan Jeanne.  

In 1952, they came back to Rhode Island, settling in Barrington. They soon had another baby, but she was stillborn. They later had Douglas Randall and then Charles Roger.

They were members of the Barrington Yacht Club and their summers were spent boating and cruising all around Narragansett Bay, Block Island, the Vineyard and Nantucket.

Martha was a member of the Junior Women’s Club and was on various civic committees as well as being active with the Barrington Women’s Republican Club and the DAR.

Martha & Roger spent winters in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. during their retirement years. They were married for 61 years and after he passed on, she moved in with her daughter in Rumford. 

Martha maintained an extremely active life, often visiting with her sisters. She was still driving and enjoying life to the fullest. Her joie de vivre and exuberant energy delighted everyone she came across. Her obvious open-hearted persona allowed everyone to express their love and delight for her as well as her always expressing to all, how much she truly loved and enjoyed them. She and her sister are completely and uniquely irreplaceable. She will be missed by so many.

Martha is survived by her 3 children; 1 daughter-in-law Terri Pound Williams, 5 grandchildren: Maxwell Charles, Nicholas Douglas, Charles Edward, Ethan Douglas and Connor Young; step-grandchildren: Savanna & Jack Henessey & daughters Isla & Kendal, Riannon & Shawn Mecchi & son Miles: and great-grandbaby Breanna Williams.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, in Central Congregational Church, Angell Street, Providence. The Wheeler Lot off of Hope Street will be available for parking. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Multiple Sclerosis Assoc. of RI, Hope Hospice of RI or Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Please visit smithmason.com for online condolences.