Sarah Nichols Williams

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Sarah (Sally) N. Croft Williams on March 18, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents Lyle and Josephene Nichols her brother, Michael Nichols and her second husband, Ken Williams. Sally is survived by her four children: Sarah Croft, Mason Croft (Christy), Carey Croft Stanton (Eric), and Michael Croft; six grandchildren; her first husband, William (Bill) Croft; and sister, Josephene Hale.

Sally had a vibrant spirit and unwavering love for her family. Born on September 21, 1944, in Pittsburg, TX she lived a life full of resiliency, strength and compassion.

Sally was a devoted mother of four who grew up in New Orleans and instilled a deep love for the city and deep affection for the enduring charm of the South. She lived all over the country, from California to North Carolina to Illinois, finally settling in Mississippi and then Tennessee. She attended Sacred Heart Academy in New Orleans, followed by Marymount University in Virginia and Louisiana State University in New Orleans. She remained a lifelong fan of LSU, her alma mater and of course the New Orleans Saints. Sally made her debut at age 18 and married her first husband Bill at 21, the father of her four children.

Her guidance and wisdom were instrumental in shaping the lives of those around her, particularly her beloved adult children. An avid athlete, Sally taught her children how to play several sports, including the family favorite—tennis—and supported all their sports endeavors while playing in her own tennis league. She spent countless hours daily and on weekends driving them to games and tournaments, loudly cheering them on from the stands, “Come on Pumpkin,” and encouraging them to try their best. From the crazy days when her children were little and did the most obnoxious things during her naps, to introducing them to crawfish, Pat O’Briens, how to make a gin and tonic, to proper dining etiquette, Sally was the epitome of fun. Everyone around her knows she was a fierce competitor in tennis, card games, Pictionary and Scrabble. Sally loved the casinos and slot machines, a smoke after a meal or even between courses, happy hour, family meals, the beach and the woods, spending most of her later years listening to the birds on her back deck overlooking the trees and garden that she loved.

Sally always prioritized giving her kids every opportunity, often foregoing treating herself. Her charismatic and magnetic personality made her a cherished friend to many, and her hilarious sense of humor, wit and dimples, when she smiled, brought joy to everyone around her, right up until the end.

She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those she touched.

Visitation will be on April 5, 2025 at Sumner Funeral and Cremation Lakeside in Hendersonville, TN from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm with a brief service to start at 4 pm.