Funeral services for Rachel Sylestine Williams, 71, of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 25, 2011 at the Indian Village Presbyterian Church. Elder Debra Battise-Kleinman, CLP officiated the service. Interment will be at the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Cemetery.

She was born on March 10, 1940 on the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation to Clara Faye Sylestine and passed away on June 23, 2011 in Lufkin, Texas. She is preceded in death by her sons, Hobby Williams, Jr., Wendell Williams and Lawton Williams, a daughter Susan Williams, her mother Clara Faye Sylestine Battise, her sister Jessie Sylestine, her brother Chester Sylestine, and her aunts Lillie Robinson and Lucille Hilderbrand.

Rachel worked for many years at the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Enterprise in various areas from the Inn of the Twelve Clans Restaurant to being a frybread and beadwork demonstrator for the many visitors to the Reservation. In her spare time, she enjoyed making beaded Dogwood necklaces, going fishing and spending time with her grand and great-grandchildren.

Rachel is survived by her husband Hobby Williams of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, daughter Kunya and husband Edward Cantu of Austin, Texas, daughter Vanya and husband, Johnathon Erickson of Austin, Texas, two brothers, Malcolm Sylestine and Charley Sylestine of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, sister, Arlene Williams and husband Eugene Williams of Elton, Louisiana, seven grandchildren, Galen Williams, Janalisa Williams, Brandon Celedon, Earl Erickson, Shane Erickson, Christian Erickson and Johnathon Erickson, four great-grandchildren, Asa Erickson, Nikki Williams, Noah Erickson and Tristan Williams, as well as a host of cousins, nieces and nephews and friends.

Pallbearers were Galen Williams, Johnathon Erickson, Shane Erickson, Christian Erickson, Earl Erickson, , Brandon Celedon, Calvin Wilson and Brent Thompson.

Cochran Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Please sign our online register at www.cochranfh.com.