Holly Williams Pens Touching Tribute To Her Late Sister, Promises To Show Katherine’s Children ‘Love and Light’
The Williams family is still reeling from the recent loss of Katherine D. Williams-Dunning, daughter of Hank Williams Jr. Dunning,…
The Williams family is still reeling from the recent loss of Katherine D. Williams-Dunning, daughter of Hank Williams Jr. Dunning, who tragically lost her life in a car accident on June 13, was laid to rest late last week. As the family continues to mourn her loss and attempt to move forward with life without their beloved family member, her sister Holly Williams shared a moving tribute to her late sister.
In a post shared to Instagram on Wednesday (June 24), Holly shared the words she wrote to read at Katherine’s service.
“My dear Katie, as I sit on the front porch this morning, I can only think of this exact day 1 week ago. We were preparing for Aunt Loretta’s funeral, you looked so beautiful & we were trying to decide what we would do with little Audrey during the service, where you so effortlessly handled your motherly duties as usual. You always exuded such joy, laughter, kindness and positivity no matter the situation. Hope was your friend and love was your anchor,” Holly wrote. “The depths of your love for your nieces and nephews reached as deep as the love for your own children. You were the most thoughtful and intentional Aunt that Stella, Lillie, Arlo, & Tennyson could ever ask for.”
She went on to share her gratitude for the time they got to spend together before her untimely death and praise Katie for her work as a working mom and wife.
“I am so thankful that I got to spend 3 days with you last week, we talked about how slowing down and focusing on motherhood was the most important thing to us right now, how we would start meeting once a month in Troy, Alabama at the farm so our babies could play, and how we would do more sister trips together. You and Hilary and I were all going to be there for each other forever, no matter what,” she shared. “I was always so in awe of your stamina with the high pressure jobs and schedules of you and Tyler, and the constant grace that you showered on your children, making them a priority in the face of exhaustion and overwhelm.
“How we got from Friday morning breakfast to now is still something I am not able to process,” she continued. “But we worked hard for you this week my girl, choosing your casket and resting spot was the most harrowing job I’ve ever been faced with. Holding Sam and Dad and your husband has been indescribably painful, but you would only want us getting stronger for each other minute by minute.”
As her heartfelt message to her sister continued, Holly shared a promise for her niece and nephew, the two children that Katherine left behind.
“I will light up more than ever for your children rather than shutting down in my own grief. They will know endless amounts of joy and see that there is still love all around them,” Holly pledged. “We will not shrivel in our beds, we will grieve appropriately and rise up for everyone still here who needs us so much, as you would want us to. I am committed to showing your babies your endless kindness and love and light. I am here for them in every aspect of their lives from helping with school planning to summer trips. We will all go on with hope in the face of hopelessness, with faith in the face of tragedy, and with the sweet assurance that you are in heaven with those that went before you. I know you always loved to hear Hilary talk about going to heaven during our car accident, before she was revived. You are in the colors and music that she said were indescribable, and we will all see you again. We love you endlessly…”
Katherine D. Williams-Dunning was 27 years old when she lost her life in a car accident on June 13 in Henry County, Tennessee.
According to Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Brad Wilbanks, Katie was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe that was involved in a single-vehicle collision near West Antioch Road Northeast of Paris.
Williams-Dunning’s SUV was towing a boat and was traveling Southbound on Highway 79 at 7:44 p.m. when the SUV crossed over the dividing median on the four-lane highway and rolled over, crossing Northbound lanes and stopping on the East shoulder. She died from injuries sustained in the accident on the scene, according to WKRN.
Her husband, Tyler J. Dunning, was also a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident. He reportedly sustained extensive, non-threatening injuries.
Tyler and Katherine married in October of 2015. She leaves behind two children, a 5-year-old son named Beau Weston and a 2-year-old daughter named Audrey Jane.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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