Tommie Towles Ferrell Williams

Posted on May 12, 2023

Tommie Towles Ferrell Williams, 88, died May 10, 2023, at her home in Perry. She was born on July 5, 1934, in Athena. Tommie was a true Taylor county girl. The youngest grandchild of local cattleman James X. Towles, she spent her youth cow hunting in the woods on horseback, riding in rodeos and playing at the beaches of Southern Taylor County. She retired in 2002 from a long career with the State of Florida as a senior land sales investigator and was considered a force to be reckoned with by many in the industry. Later in life she was a valued source of information for those researching both Florida’s cattle and land sales history. Even though she was nearing 70 when she retired, relaxing didn’t suit her “get things done” nature and she went back to work for the county in the Supervisor of Elections office, serving under two administrations. Tommie was preceded in death by: her parents, Bill and Maud Towles; sisters, Inez Schiurring and Janie Edwards; and her daughter, Peggy Vaughan Hart. Survivors include: her husband, Edwin Williams of Perry; daughters, Pam (Greg) Jacobson of Phoenix, Ariz., and Polly (Rod) Waller of Perry; and three grandsons, Hogun Vaughan of Valdosta, Ga., Eric Jacobson of San Francisco, Calif., and Keith (Brenna) Jacobson of Westminster, Colo. Tommie passed away awaiting the birth of her first great-grandchild, a boy who is to be named Henry Jacobson. The family would like to thank Tommie’s tireless caregivers, Tami Knight, Rhonda Moore and Rita Buggs. Family will receive friends at Joe P. Burns Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 17, from 1-1:45 p.m., with a graveside service to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice of Perry.