Paulette Denise McWilliams Obituary
Paulette Denise McWilliams was born on May 21st , 1955, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was born to Priscilla Dean Glover and Alonzo Paul Hairston. From infancy, she was raised by her mother, her adoptive father Dr. Julius Glover, and loving grandmother Armentha Fluellen, whom she affectionately called Nana. Paulette passed away on Monday, May 9th, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in San. Diego, California, after a brief but intense battle with cancer.
Paulette attended Shaker Heights High School. Following this, she married her childhood friend, Michael McWilliams, and to this union four children were born. She spent most of her adult life in Ventura and Sacramento, California. Over the years, she had many occupations but spent most of her life working with children. Most of her career was spent at the Phoenix schools in downtown Sacramento, where she worked over 20 years as an early childhood educator. She initially worked with infants and later with 4-year-olds. She was deeply loved by the parents, children, and staff. She enjoyed nurturing the children by providing them with love, guidance, care, and support. Often, she would be found singing nursery rhymes or folk songs while simultaneously feeding or cuddling another little one. She showed her love for music and a variety of literature by creating beautiful experiences with songs, musical instruments, and dramatic readings.
Paulette was a lifetime lover of animals and cared for many of them over the years. They brought her much joy. There was not a pet nor a person she would not take in. She often provided shelter to loved ones who were homeless or struggling. Paulette was a testament to the human strength and power to persevere through any trial or tribulation. She embodied this by holding on to the motto, "lead with love first and everything else will work out". Paulette loved fiercely, fervently, unconditionally, and unwaveringly for her entire life.
Nothing was more important to Paulette than spending time with her family and friends. She loved reading, hanging out, talking, laughing, watching movies, going to plays, and comedy shows, playing games, and experiencing different cultures through special events and festivals. Paulette enjoyed traveling and experiencing life. She had the opportunity to cruise to Mexico, travel with friends to Morocco, and venture to other cities through the United States.
Paulette treasured spending time with her extensive, fun-loving family. She was particularly fond of the annual trips to Kansas and San Diego, especially at Easter and Thanksgiving, which had become a family tradition. She loved each one of them wholeheartedly and offered only sheer adoration and praise. She was grateful to feel so loved and cared for by her family and wanted everyone to know how much she loved them and wished she could have continued living to have more time with everyone. Her two grandchildren brought her nothing but joy and pride and her biggest regret is not being able to watch them grow up. Through her children's marriages, she gained two more children and loved them like her own, and was grateful for the joy they brought into her life. She hoped and prayed that she would always be remembered fondly and that everyone would look out for each other and be kind to one another in her absence.
Preceding her in death are her parents, and brother David. Paulette is survived by her four children: Toyia McWilliams-Anguiano (Jose), Aaron McWilliams, Kamiko McWilliams, and Kelly McWilliams (Falishia), two grandchildren: Orion McWilliams and Malakai McWilliams, and eight siblings: Antoinette. Fulton, Priscilla Whiting (Cecil), Pamela Howland-King, Paul Hairston, Valeria Hairston (Roderick), Vernita Hairston, Julius Glover (Angela), and Dorothy Elaine Hairston (Warren), one sister-in-law: Ernestine Hairston and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She deeply loved her Second. Life family and her best friends, Lisa Snelling and Vanessa Faller.
Paulette was truly a blessing to her family and friends and her memory will endure forever.
