Alberta “Woo” McWilliams, 56, of Parsons died at 9:35 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.

She was born March 13, 1956, in Picayune, Miss., to Leslie and Bessie Mae (Matthews) McWilliams. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in Mississippi until moving with her family to Parsons where she graduated from Parsons High School in 1974. 

She was a foster parent for 13 years and worked at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center for 23 years until becoming disabled. She was co-founder of Shades of Fun in Parsons, a non-profit organization that provided scholarships for college students. 

She was a member of the former Macedonia Baptist Church, now Macedonia Soul Winning Ministry, in Parsons where she sang in the choir. She was also actively involved in feeding students who attended Labette Community College. Alberta’s passion was helping kids. She enjoyed playing bingo, collecting chickens and antiques, shopping and was considered to be a great cook. 

Survivors include a son, Anthony McWilliams of Parsons; three daughters, Stacy McWilliams, Robin McWilliams, both of Pittsburg, and Eva Mae Mooney of Parsons; a foster daughter, Adrian Wheat of Wichita; seven grandchildren, Daelon Hendricks, Jaedon Hendricks, Kyia McWilliams, Alex McWilliams, David Young, Aunasti McWilliams and Olando McWilliams; four brothers, Louis McWilliams, Oliver McWilliams, Donald McWilliams and Donald Quinn, all of Parsons; four half brothers, Jerome McWilliams, Sonny McWilliams, Oscar Lee McWilliams and John McWilliams, all of Greensboro, S.C.; and a sister, Deloris Opare of Parsons.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Leslie McWilliams; and twin sisters, Annie Mae and Josephine McWilliams.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Watson Memorial Church of God in Christ in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to Macedonia Soul Winning Ministry.  These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.