Mary Imogene "Gene" Bacon Williams was born August 10, 1927, and she lived on this earth for 87 years. February 2, 2015, was the day that Gene went home to live eternally with the Lord. Gene was the daughter of the late William Earl Bacon and the late Annie Lou Strickland Bacon, and she was born near Willie, Georgia, presently known as Fort Stewart in Liberty County. Gene wrote her autobiography when she was 14 years old. She "lived on a farm in a big two-story house, where there were a lot of people and all of the children would play together." Gene attended school in Willie and worked on her father's tobacco farm during the summers. She missed only one day of school from the first grade through high school graduation.Gene and her family moved to Savannah, Ga., since a new air base was going to be built where she lived. Gene was hoping to "move to some place where she and her family would be happy." The new place was in a Savannah community called Hudson Hill. Gene worked at Silver's five and ten store on Broughton Street and at Southern Bell while attending high school. She graduated from Savannah High School in January 1945. Gene worked in the civil service for one year and during that time was transferred to St. Louis. She came back to Savannah and took a business course before working at WSAV for five years.Gene married her husband, Robert Frederick Williams, the love of her life, on December 2, 1948. They were married until his death in 1982. She worked at Bearings and Drives during her child-rearing years and then Gene started working at Builders Transport in 1971 and retired in 1993.Gene was a faithful member of Jasper Springs Baptist Church most of her life, where she worshipped God and enjoyed the fellowship of her family and friends.She was an avid reader and modeled her love of reading to her children through her Bible studies and reading of novels. Gene was a talented seamstress and liked the fabrics that she so lovingly cut and spent late nights stitching together into works of art to clothe her daughters. Her character was woven from a fabric that rarely exists in this age of instant gratification and quick fixes. She had the faithfulness of Dorcas and the patience of Job. She faced difficulty with a quiet dignity that demonstrated a faith that is born out of deeds rather than the words. Gene was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Frederick Williams; her parents, William Earl and Annie Lou Strickland Bacon; her sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie (James) Brigham; her sister-in-law, Viola Bacon; her brother-in-law, Junie Hurt; her step granddaughter, Bobbie Rowe; and her step grandson, Aron Enns. Gene is survived by her five daughters and their spouses, Debra Mays (Jack), Dale Mock (Mose), Barbara Willoughby (Wayne), Connie Helder (Chris) and Robin Hinely (Keith); grandchildren, Alison Selman, Caleb (Jada) and Joshua Mock, Robert Willoughby, Robert, Emma and Lucas Helder and Justin Hinely; great-grandson, Jackson Selman; brother, W.E. Bacon; sisters, Earlene Wilder (Robert) and Sue Hurt; step grandchildren, Leland Mays, Melanie Bryant (Chris), Ann Enns and Wendy Turner (Travis); step great-grandchildren, Tomara Morgan, Clay (Jennifer), Kyle and Cole Bryant, Taylor and Kaitlyn Enns, Peyton and Blair Turner; step great-great-grandchildren, Jordan and Kaylee Bryant, Michael, Gage and Hunter; and several nieces and nephews.The family would like to thank Ogeechee Area Hospice and Gentilly Gardens Assisted Living in Statesboro, Ga., for the care that was given to Gene.Remembrances may be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, 200 Donehoo Street, Statesboro, GA 30458; or Jasper Springs Baptist Church, 62 Smith Avenue, Garden City, GA 31408.The visitation will be from 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2015, at the funeral home.The funeral will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home with burial to follow in Hillcrest Abbey East Cemetery.Friends may sign the online register book at www.stricklandandsonsfuneralhome.com.Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, West Chatham Chapel, 901 West Highway 80, Pooler, GA 31322; (912) 748-2444.Statesboro Herald, February 6, 2015Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.