By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Retired kindergarten teacher Armenia "Meanie" Glaspie Williams was known for her infectious smile, said her daughter, Rosalynn Adams of San Jose, Calif.

"Sharing love was what my mother was all about," said her daughter. "She had so much love and everybody knew that she loved unconditionally. She was overflowing."

Mrs. Adams said her mother fought the odds to achieve her dreams.

"She accomplished a fairy tale, a dream come true," said Mrs. Adams. "I'm standing right now in the house that she told me she was going to buy someday as we rode past it on the bus each day."

Mrs. Williams eventually bought the house in Clifton where she lived for 45 years.

She was 77 when she died Tuesday of cancer at the Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash.

She was born in 1926 in Cincinnati to Sylvester and Armenia E. Rhodes Glaspie and graduated from Woodward High School in 1944. She began studies at the University of Cincinnati but had to drop out. She later returned to UC and earned her bachelor's degree in education in June 1965 - on the same day her daughter graduated from high school.

She was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta sorority in 1946 and received a scholarship.

She married Robert B. Williams of Cincinnati in 1953.

Immediately after receiving her degree, Mrs. Williams began a 30-year teaching career in the Cincinnati Public School system. Her last position was as a kindergarten teacher at Quebec Heights School in Price Hill.

She was active in Delta Sigma Theta for more than 50 years and served as vice president, parliamentarian, and president.

She was also a member of the Clifton Neighborhood Association and the League of Women Voters.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her sister, Janet Scott of Cleveland; and a granddaughter.

Visitation will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. today at the Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, 7030 Reading Road, with the Delta Sigma Theta's Outgoing Celebration, 6:30-7 p.m. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. at the church.

The interment procession will meet at the Allen Temple A.M.E. Church parking lot at 10 a.m. Monday and proceed to the burial at Union Baptist Cemetery, 4933 Cleves-Warsaw Pike, Price Hill.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com