A memorial service for Jennifer Williams of Atlanta was held Saturday, January 30, 2010, at the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel at Agnes Scott College in Decatur. She died Wednesday, January 13, 2010. She was born in New York City on December 27, 1970, to Wilbur and Janet Williams. She was the granddaughter of Mrs. Harry Gartrell and the niece of Mrs. Gladys Pinkston of Wilkes County. She briefly attended Washington-Wilkes Elementary School as a child.

She moved to Atlanta with her parents in 1977 where she developed an early love for music and drama and joined the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. While in high school she traveled to South Korea with the Jimmy Carter Friendship Force. She won a scholarship to study French at La Sorbonne University in Paris, France, during her junior year. She was a charter and active member of the North Suburban chapter of Jack and Jill of America.

She entered Spelman College in 1988 where she majored in French and Economics. Always the scholar, she spent her junior year as an exchange student at the University of Surrey at Guilford, England. She graduated cum laude from Spelman in 1992. She graduated from Emory Law School with a Doctor of Law degree in 1996. Following admission to the Georgia Bar, she joined the Rushing Law Firm of Atlanta where she handled litigation in personal injury, contract law, and domestic cases. In August 1998, she became an attorney with the United States Government Social Security Administration and was promoted to senior attorney in 2009.

A strong young woman with a quick wit and a generous heart, Williams was passionate about giving back to the community and helping the downtrodden. This was one of her life’s missions. She was actively involved in causes defending the welfare of foster children. She was a supporter of the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home Inc. She was a supporter of AIDS organizations; the Combined Federal Campaign; and Women for Women, International. She was also a registered nurse.