Priscilla Grossman Williams

BOYNTON BEACH, FL and BANGOR - Priscilla Grossman Williams made her final transition in the evening on June 24, 2024, succumbing to lung cancer. Though she was born, and spent the majority of her life in Bangor, Maine, Priscilla passed away surrounded by family in Boynton Beach, Florida, where she got to see her grandchildren Sydney (21) and Olivia (19) grow up. She treasured every minute they spent together, and they affectionately came to know her as their Nana.

Priscilla is survived by her sons, Daniel, Kenneth and Eric, and daughters-in-law but daughters-in-truth, Emily Cain, Michelle Williams and Trisna Williams. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Jeanette Grossman, her brother, Kenneth David Grossman and her ex-husband of 25 years, Jerry Williams. Priscilla is also survived by numerous cousins and lifelong friends—too many to name, but they all know they were loved.
Priscilla had a wicked sense of humor, loved birds and taking walks in nature, had a penchant for British detective shows, and loved to read. She hated all bugs. She worked at her family’s business, Emple Knitting Mills, in Brewer, Maine, running the factory outlet stores and, under her guidance, the stores grew from just the Brewer location to locations throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Priscilla saw the struggles of several of her children’s friends and realized that Maine, like most states, was doing a particularly poor job at serving teenagers in need of substance abuse treatment and this interest became a calling and eventually a second career.
Even though she started as a volunteer with no formal background, Priscilla was passionate, caring and a quick study. She eventually became the Executive Director of the Eastern Regional Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse and later spent many fulfilling years as the Executive Director of Wellspring, a nonprofit substance use disorder and addiction recovery resource in Bangor. Her work with Wellspring put her on the board of MASAP - the Maine Association of Substance Abuse Providers - where she eventually became the Director. This put her in touch with Maine’s politicians, who knew that they were going to have to deal with her brains, her wit, and her never-ending energy for “her kids” for whom she was constantly fighting. After 20 years in the fight, she retired to Florida to care for her parents.

While our hearts mourn the loss of our beloved mother and Nana, we take comfort in knowing she did not suffer – and she was grateful beyond words for all of her “bonus time,” afforded her by her excellent doctors and nurses. In Priscilla’s final thoughts she shared her wish for us to say a sincere goodbye and thank you to all her friends and family.

In honor of her final wishes, a funeral service will be held 1pm, Sunday, June 30, 2024 at the Jewish Funeral Chapel, 118 Center St., Bangor, ME. Those who wish to view the service remotely may do so by visiting https://my.gather.app/remember/priscilla-williams-2024. Immediately following the service, she will be interred at the Beth Israel Cemetery, located on Severance Rd. off of Mount Hope Ave. in Bangor.

The family kindly asks that, in lieu of flowers, you consider a gift in Priscilla's honor and memory to either Bangor High School in support of the Kenneth D. Grossman Swimming Award, 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401; or to the Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.