Farah Suzanne Williams

Farah Suzanne Williams of Taylors Falls, Minnesota passed away on February 4, 2014 as a result of long-term mental illness at the age of 37. She was born April 3, 1976 in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Early in life she lived in Van Buren, Arkansas. When she was 11 she moved to Minnesota where she began her basketball career; she went on to play at Loyola University of Chicago on a scholarship. After college she returned to Minnesota. In 2008, she attended the Bikram Yoga College of India and became a certified Bikram Yoga instructor and came to instruct in Minnesota, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Fort Worth, Hawaii, Australia, and Costa Rica. She loved music. Her ultimate talent was as a singer songwriter. She played guitar, trumpet, and harmonica as well as other instruments. Her voice was very unique and her music had a depth that moved and inspired all who listened. She wrote hundreds of songs. She made her journey in life a walk in recovery. She did service work to help other addicts and alcoholics to achieve and maintain sobriety and was very active in the recovery community. She was a compassionate, loving daughter, niece, sister, cousin and friend. She is survived by her mother Debbie Hemphill of Chisago City, Minnesota; father Donald Williams, of New York, sister Alexandra, of New York; aunts: Karen (Eric) Robertson of Van Buren, Arkansas, Machelle Williams and Cheryl Williams, of Zion, Illinois; uncle Kenneth Hemphill of Fayetteville, Arkansas; cousin (like a brother) Justin (Mailena) Urso of Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Pete and Shirley Hemphill of Van Buren, Arkansas. Memorials can be made in Farah’s name to the Hazelden Foundation, attention-Philanthropy Office, 1375 St. Anthony Avenue, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55104. Proceeds will go to the Patient Aid Fund to help others access chemical dependency treatment. Farah’s life was greatly impacted with the complications of mental illness, she left this world loved by many and she will be missed. A service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 8th at St. Gregory's Catholic Church - 38725 Forest Blvd, North Branch. Arrangements for Farah Williams are with the Funeral and Cremation Service – Olson Chapel of Rush City. www.funeralandcremationservice.com