Yvonne P. Williams-Dean

Yvonne Petra Williams-Dean, age, 84 of Cherry Hill, NJ, passed away on May 31, 2023, at the Samaritan Hospice Center in Voorhees, New Jersey. She was born to the late Wesley and Alma (maiden - Jones) Griffin in Manhattan, New York.

Her journey here on the Jersey shore began 52 years ago when she relocated from Harlem, New York to Neptune, New Jersey with her former husband Charles Williams and two young sons. It was here where she achieved her bachelor’s degree at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ. Her desire and determination to make sure that every child in her path was fully educated became her anthem with the mantra that “no child should be left behind.” Yvonne then became part of the Neptune school system. She started teaching in special education and later retired from the Neptune Middle School after twenty-seven years, but she didn’t stop there. She also tutored students after school at their homes. Students still talk and remember her inspiration to this day.

Yvonne was an avid reader who had many hobbies which included acting, listening to music, shopping was her thing, traveling, and discussing politics. She loved to dance, turn on the oldies and she would be up and moving. She was the mother to 8 children but was also a mother figure for so many children in the neighborhood, as well as her students. Yvonne loved children and her house was the place to be. It was the safe place where you knew you were welcomed with open arms. Yvonne was a beautiful, spirited woman that touched the hearts and lives of many. She was the matriarch of our family and the ultimate example of “you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

If that will of hers was in another body, she would have lived another 20 years, but her spirit will always live on with each one of us.

Yvonne is predeceased by her late husband, Harry Lee Dean; sons, Quinn, and John Robinson; and siblings, Willard Jones, Ralph Jones, son-in-law, Bruce Colleton and sister-in-law, Joan Griffin.

She is survived by her children, Rhonda Williams, Tamara Williams, Pennie “Louise” Colleton; Tommie Dean; Phyllis Dean, and Robin Dean; daughters in law, Rebecca Butler, Allison Renee Robinson, Terri Dean; son in law, Magatte “Max” Diack; Yohanna Faruk. Grandchildren, Tanisha, Nakesha, Nataki, Khari, Alioune, Mohamet, Ibrahima, Yvonne, Leila, Joseph, Edward, Yanice, Khalia, Earl, Davon, Harry, and Sean; siblings, Wesley O. Griffin, Ellis Griffin, and El Marie Roulette; and many loving great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. After all of them she still had love for Ada Paige who we all love and embraced as our own.

Yvonne Williams–Dean’s “Going Home Celebration” Memorial Service

Second Baptist Church

124 Atkins Avenue

Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712

(732) 774-5347

Date : Saturday, June 10, 2023

Time : 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM