Sarah Maxine Ayer Williams, age 88, left this world to spend eternity with her loving Lord on June 7, 2014. She was born on April 22, 1926, the eighth child of Winnie Justine Kinard and Halcott Benjamin Ayer of the St. John's Church Community near Ehrhardt, SC. Maxine was proceeded in death by her husband Hugh Dixon Williams. She is survived by daughter, Lisa Walden and husband Rev. Grady Walden of Mt. Airy, GA, son Richard Williams of Nashville, TN, and sister, Mildred Allen of Bamburg, SC. She is also survived by four grandsons, and many loving nieces and nephews. Maxine spent her childhood in the rural farming community of Ehrhardt, SC, attending Olar Grade School and later graduating from Bamberg High School in 1944. She began her college studies at Bob Jones College, then located in Cleveland, TN, in 1944, and later graduated in 1952 after the campus moved to its new home in Greenville, SC. During her college summers, she worked for the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, teaching Bible School and Sunday School in Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas. After college graduation, Maxine relocated to Augusta, GA and joined many others in the initial construction phase of the high-security Savannah River Plant, working as a secretary in the plant headquarters, and later in plant laboratory offices. Maxine spent 10 years employed at the SRP, leaving only to be a stay-at-home Mom. Upon moving to her new hometown, Maxine joined and became a very active member of First Baptist Church. It was there that she met her future husband, “Dick” Williams. They were married in October of 1960, had two children, and settled into a life of work and church service. Maxine’s six decades at First Baptist were filled with years of Sunday School teaching and committee work. In addition, she was loyal to the many building campaigns that the church undertook as well as to her many church friends. In 1971, with both children in school, Maxine embarked on a new career as a Civil Servant at the Fort Gordon Army Base, working first in the Corp of Engineers Office, then later at the Eisenhower Army Medical Center in both the the Chaplain's Office and the School of Anesthesiology. She retired in 1993, after 22 years of distinguished service, to become a community volunteer and to spend more time with her extended family. After retiring from full- time employment, nothing gave her greater joy than to cook and bake for her family and her many neighbors and church friends, and to garden around her home. She also found a cause that touched her heart, devoting over 10 years to volunteer work for the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation. She spearheaded the creation and implementation of the daily food program which saw many local churches of diverse belief come together to provide free meals for the families of the burn patients being treated at Doctor’s Hospital. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held in the Chapel of First Baptist Church, Augusta, GA on Thursday, June 12 at 2:00 p.m. with interment immediately following. A gathering of family and friends will begin one hour prior to service time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Maxine’s memory to either the First Baptist Church of Augusta chapel fund, 3500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909 (706/733-2236), or the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, 3614 J. Dewey Gray Circle, Building C, Augusta, GA 30909 (706/650-2876) An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia (706/778-8668) & Habersham Crematory are in charge of arrangements.