Blanch Spruiel Williams

Blanch Spruiel Williams, 89, of 5301 Wesbard Circle, Bethesda, Maryland (formerly of Gulf, NC), entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at Carriage Hill Rehab of Bethesda in Maryland.

Blanch Spruiel Williams was born February 7,1931 to two wonderful parents, Willie Spruiel and Melissa Frazier Spruiel Waddell in Gulf, North Carolina. Her parents’ guidance introduced her to the Macedonia A.M.E. Zion Church. Blanch later moved to Eastern Shore of Virginia with her mother and her step father. She was one of 12 kids. Her desire to explore and change the world led her from her mother’s protection in 1951. To crawl with love or perish slowly, Blanch decided to start her journey in Greensboro at North Carolina A&T University. Blanch recognized all of the gifts God blessed her with, and she felt a mission to enhance all of those talents, so her blessings can be shared. Blanch knew it was her purpose from God to flourish and give back. Her deep spiritual faith broadened her world. Angels were by her side, and that helped her to become resilient. With His provision, her battles were fought in time of need, she used her boldness to battle wrong and felt guided every day. The words of a human angel totally dressed in black led her to Baltimore in 1952. There she earned a diploma at the Cortez Peters Business School. In 1957, Blanch’s dreams and desires led her to Washington, DC. to use and widen the skills obtained while in Baltimore. She became a member of John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church. Blanch became a clerk, typist, stenographist, secretary, data and social science analyst. Her resilience allowed the continuance of her federal career and formal education. Blanch landed jobs at the U.S Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department Interstate Commerce Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). On August 3, 1968 she wed Thomas Joseph “TJ” Williams at John Wesley AME Zion Church in northwest Washington, DC. The ceremony consisted of her, TJ, Rev Franklin Jackson and some people working at the church. TJ was a proud military man serving different positions and stationed in different locations. One location he was able to visit was Hawaii. He used one of those times to send for Blanch. TJ surprised her and proposed to her in Hawaii...how romantic. They both were huge Washington Redskins fans who were also season ticket holders. They were fortunate to attend Super Bowl games in person while watching their favorite team. After two years of meetings and struggles at her job during 1970 and 1971, Blanch found a way to give back to her country. As an employee at DHHS, in the Administration on Aging Division, Blanch spoke out about job discrimination for the first time. Her strong-willed ability helped to open more professional federal jobs for Black Americans and all women. Her strong-will also forced DHHS to establish Equal Employment Opportunity Committees throughout the department. Further, Blanch prepared statistical books that were used by Congress to develop policy. These books were even distributed through out DHHS, Government Printing Office, and other institutions. Blanch received a recognition award from the Assistant Secretary and a Retirement Merit award from the Secretary of U.S Department of Health and Human Services. 

Blanch then earned a third degree but this time from Howard University in Economics in 1980. In 1988, Blanch felt the internal need to steer away from paid employment. Blanch wanted to give back to her family, her Church, her community, and her University. With her hubby, T.J., by her side, Blanch felt strengthened to act. Blanch found many ways to give back to Mama Melissa’s offspring. She delivered a family tree, family history, family reunions, book clubs, and individual give backs. By 2011, Blanch wrote nine family books and put together a family picture book in efforts to ensure her offspring possessed knowledge about our family tree and the times in which the family lived and currently lives. Blanch found incredible joy in helping to uplift and unite her tribe. Most importantly, Blanch was driven to enhance herself in many ways. Blanch enjoyed long walks around her neighborhood and through nearby trails. She loved going to museums, especially the recent National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the special events they hosted for members. Blanch enjoyed attending live plays that not only gave her a glimpse of the past, but also a reminder to the progression that has transpired. Mid 2019, Blanch experienced problems with her health that slowly progressed. Her trust and faith helped her to maintain strength and wisdom despite the continued battles she faced. Overall, her signature smile rarely left her face; her worries rarely overcame her; her poise rarely shifted. Her continued independence and self-efficacy helped her to believe that even despite what doctors had informed her, she knew she was going to remain steadfast and go upon what she believed was best in her situation. On June 9, 2020 approximately at 11:20pm, Blanch transitioned to her next phase. Blanch left this life feeling comfortable about her dream to give back to family, church, education, country, and community in some small way. Her top joys in fulfilling her dream include mailing her first $10.00 bill to help her Mama Melissa in 1954; supporting her church; opening professional federal positions for African Americans and all women; becoming a Lonnie Bunch Charter Member of the National Museum for African American History and Culture of Washington, D.C. in 2013; searching for family roots; and challenging the budget process for her residential condominium in 2014. She now joins her late devoted husband, parents, and siblings: Delvinia Spruiell Barrett, Ormania (Rosa) Spruiel, Barbara Lee Spruiell Herndon, William Jasper Spruiell, James Spruiel, B Baby Spruiel, Archie Lee Spruiell, Sr., Henry Odell Spruiel, Sr., and Simon Spruiell Sr.She leaves behind a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews spanning many generations.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.

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Also, the capacity is limited due to the requirement of social distancing; no seating permitted during the walk-through viewing.

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