Glory D. Williams of Martin, longtime secretary in the Office of University Relations, died early Sunday, Nov. 7, after a long battle with cancer. She was 53.

The wake for Williams, a Martin native, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Martin. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, also at the church.

“I had 28 long years with her and they were all good,” said her husband, Minnesota native Cecil Williams.

Williams also is survived by two sisters, six brothers and a host of cousins. One brother, along with her parents and stepmother, preceded her in death.

“She has relatives all over the United States,” Cecil Williams said. “It’s a large family.”

Bud Grimes, director of University Relations, asked faculty and staff in an e-mail on Monday to remember the Williams family in their thoughts and prayers.

Joe Lofaro, director of Sports Information and a former University Relations employee, said the youth from Oak Grove Church have been invited to attend UTM basketball games on Thursday and Saturday nights, free of charge, in Williams’ memory.

“She taught me respect as much as my mom and dad did, and she was the first person besides me to hold my kids,” Lofaro said.

“Most of all, she was a great friend.”