Elizabeth Williams

Celebration of life: 26 November

We thank everyone who was able to attend the celebration of Liz’s life that was held in Fontainebleau on 26 November. Your presence meant so much to us.

For those who were unable to attend, we know that you were with us in spirit.

Donations in lieu of flowers

The Williams family gratefully accepts donations in memory of Liz, in lieu of flowers, to the following charities:

• Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris. UPDATE: Thanks to you, we exceeded our fundraising goal and raised EUR 1,610. We are so grateful for your generosity. **The fundraising campaign in Liz’s memory is now closed.**

• BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Liz was an avid BBC Radio 4 listener (The Archers and Desert Island Discs were favourite programmes!). The station supports a number of charities, please select ‘Donate Now’ and make a donation to the charity of your choice, in Liz’s memory.

• Pushcart Prize Fellowships Inc. Endowment Fund (donations by USA cheque only, by mail to: Pushcart Prize Fellowships, P.O Box 380, Wainscott, NY 11975, USA.) You will find more information on the Pushcart Prize, and about Liz’s involvement with it, below in ‘Books’.

Please select the charity that is simplest for, and/or most meaningful to you. Many thanks in advance for your generosity.

Should you have any questions, or experience difficulties navigating the links above, please email lizwilliamsauxy@gmail.com.

Photos/Memories

Many thanks to all of you who sent photos of Liz, they brought back fantastic memories. The public photo album that was set up is now private.

Should you wish to share more photos and/or memories privately, or to send a personal message to the Williams family, please email lizwilliamsauxy@gmail.com

Biography

Born in Rugby (UK) to Stella and Kenneth Cocke, Liz grew up in several towns in England and Wales (Stamford, Oxford, Swansea) before moving to Paris at the age of 18 to complete the cours de civilisation française at the Sorbonne. Shortly after her arrival in Paris, she met Kirby at a party in a houseboat on the Seine. Liz and Kirby were married on 2 December 1966, shortly before Kirby began his career at UNESCO. In Paris, Liz worked at the British Embassy, the British Council, taught English at IBM, and graduated with a degree in Psychology from the American University of Paris. During her degree, Liz took many courses, of which her favourite was pure mathematics. Marc was born in October 1977, and Ashley in January 1980. The family moved to Buthiers in 1985. Starting in 1988, Liz began working as administrator of the Anglophone Section at the Ecole Internationale de Fontainebleau. She retired from this position, and Kirby from UNESCO, in 2000, following which they traveled extensively, and visited family and friends in France and abroad. Liz remained very active with Crossroads attending book clubs, concerts, and other events.

Books

Liz read voraciously. Some of Liz’s favourite writers were: George Eliot (‘Middlemarch’, ‘The Mill on the Floss’); Charles Dickens (‘A Tale of Two Cities’, ‘The Pickwick Papers’); Jane Austen (‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Sense and Sensibility’); John Galsworthy (‘The Forsyte Saga’); Anthony Powell (‘Dance to the Music of Time’); her friend Jean-Patrick Manchette (‘Le petit bleu de la côte ouest’, ‘La position du tireur couché’); Jean-François Parot (the Nicolas Le Floch series) — and so many more.

Liz and Kirby also served as European editors of The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses since its inception in 1976. It is the most honoured literary project in America, and was founded by Liz and Kirby’s long-time friend Bill Henderson, who remains its publisher and editor to this day. The Pushcart Prize honours work by small presses, and by established and emerging authors. Liz read every issue from cover to cover – and we encourage you to do the same.

Travel

Truly one of Liz’s passions: exploring, and experiencing different places, cultures, people, and their cuisines. Along with regular trips around France, England, and the United States, Liz enjoyed particularly memorable trips with Kirby to Kenya, Egypt, Brazil, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, China, Ukraine, and Senegal.

In the spirit of Liz, we encourage you to read a new book, not put off that dream trip, and cherish family and friends.