Betty Lu Perryman-Williams

Williams, Betty Lu Slaughter On Sunday October 13, in the presence of her beloved husband of 46 years, Joel T. Williams, Jr., Betty Lu fell asleep in Jesus and woke up in Heaven where she immediately began looking for estate and garage sale treasures. Betty Lu had a remarkable and full life and leaves a host of family and friends who will miss her ready smile, her loving presence and her loyal friendship. Born to loving parents, Albert Lloyd and Lula Mae Slaughter on August 23, 1924 in Dallas, Texas, Betty Lu was soon joined by her sister and best friend, Gloria Hammack, wife of John A. Hammack. Betty Lu and Gloria were raised in Dallas, where Betty Lu graduated from Highland Park High School in the Class of 1941. At SMU, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi and served on the College Board. Betty Lu supported the war effort by donating the proceeds of her nascent modeling career to War Bonds. Throughout college, she modeled for stores such as A Sanger, Volks, Harris and Titches. After graduating she immediately moved to NYC to sign with the John Robert Powers Modeling Agency. Life was a swirl as a beautiful girl in the city after the war. She returned to Dallas to marry Walter Lewis Perryman Jr., a marriage that ended in divorce but not before her beloved children, Linda Perryman Evans and Walter Lewis Perryman, III were born. On January 26, 1967, Betty Lu married the love of her life, Joel T. Williams, Jr., adding his children, Joel T. Williams III (and his wife, Susan) and Jan Williams Graham (and her husband, David) to her family. Betty Lu was passionate about many causes, but no cause was more dear to her heart than advocacy for those with mental health challenges. Betty Lu worked tirelessly to insure the continuation of the Herrin House Residential Treatment Center on Gaston Avenue at a time when most individuals with mental health challenges were not receiving adequate or even humane care. She was instrumental in securing more psychiatric services for incarcerated men and women. She received the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Prism Award from the Dallas Mental Health Association in recognition of her having made a difference on behalf of individuals with mental illness. Betty Lu was a member of the Junior League, the Dallas Women's Club, the Dallas Garden Club, La Femme Du Monde, and the Dallas Country Club. Her truest passion in life was to add beauty to the world. She did this in countless unique ways. Her greatest hobby was to go to garage and estate sales and find "discards" that became treasure. She was the consummate finder, rising early to "find the good stuff." She once held a "From Trash to Treasure" open house for the women of Park Cities Presbyterian Church, astonishing everyone with the stunning d???©cor in her French chateux-style home obtained from sales. She held annual sales of her accumulated treasures and donated the proceeds to Herrin House and other mental health causes. Betty Lu was an accomplished interior decorator, she excelled as a hostess and created memorable tablescapes that were never the same. She was an avid collector of wit and wisdom, an avid letter-writer, and was instrumental in advocating the creation of Park Cities Presbyterian Church, where she was a charter member. She lit up every room into which she entered with her smile and her interest in you. Her pride in her family was boundless. She is survived by her loving husband, Joel T. Williams Jr, her sister and her husband and their children, and her four children. She delighted in and is survived by her five granddaughters, Marguerite and Lindsay Graham, Katie (Mrs. Nathan Walters), Laura (Mrs. Brandon Chavoya) and Jennifer Williams. When any of her six great-grandchildren were present, Betty Lu was beside herself with joy. Dedicated helpers and friends Mrs. Nadine Anderson and Ms. Cathy Ganci mourn her passing. As Betty Lu's health declined in recent years, the William family was blessed to have the following helpers, whom they want to especially thank: Lilian Munoz Mackie, Fikerte Beshah, Yezna Ayele, and Temesgen H. Sillasssie. A celebration of her life will be held at Park Cities Presbyterian Church on Thursday, October 17, at 3 p.m., Reverend Dr. Joseph F. Ryan, officiant. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Betty Lu's honor may be given to Turtle Creek Recovery Center, 2820 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75205, the Salesmanship Club Therapeutic Services, 106 E. Tenth Street, Dallas, Texas, 75203, or the Center for Brain Health, 2200 West Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75203. Published in Dallas Morning News from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17, 2013