For M’lee and Kelley Williams, Jr. of Jackson, Mississippi, a gift to The MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is rooted in a shared family history of dementia — experiences that shaped their understanding of the devastating impact Alzheimer’s disease can have on patients and the people who love them.
The Williams Family Legacy Fund’s $50,000 gift to support the new Fred R. Adams, Jr. MIND Center and Geriatric Clinic reflects not only a desire to honor their family members but also a commitment to advancing research, prevention and support for future generations.
“We’ve seen firsthand the toll dementia and Alzheimer’s take on families. We wanted to support The MIND Center because of the difference it’s making for patients today and because of the hope it offers for the future,” said Williams, who served on The MIND Center’s fundraising committee along with his wife.
Most of the private gifts designated to support the new Fred R. Adams, Jr. MIND Center and Geriatric Clinic have been given by families or individuals directly affected by diseases of the mind. Providers in the new state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot, stand-alone facility will be able to care for more than 6,300 patients each year in the four-story clinic.
For M’lee Williams, the motivation is closely tied to the memory of her father, Dr. Mart McMullan, a cardiovascular surgeon whose career and life were deeply connected to UMMC.
“Dad loved UMMC,” she said. “From his days as a medical student to the ongoing relationships with colleagues and mentors he met there to his years working in administration alongside Jimmy Keeton and Celeste Eason, his connection to the Medical Center enriched his life in so many ways.
“As Dad’s dementia progressed, I always wondered how much he understood about what was happening to him,” she continued. “One day after he died, I was in his study and picked up his Gray’s Anatomy textbook on his desk. Inside I found several pages about the brain marked where Dad had written notes in the margins. It turns out he understood a good bit about what was happening; there was just nothing he could do about it.”
McMullan died in 2020 from complications related to dementia, but his legacy continues to inspire his family.
“We are deeply grateful to M’lee and Kelley Williams, Jr. for their commitment to The MIND Center’s mission, and to the Williams Family Legacy Fund for their generous gift,” said Dr. Tom Mosley, the Robbie and Dudley Hughes Distinguished Chair and Director of The MIND Center. “Their support honors Dr. McMullan’s legacy while helping advance critical research, education and patient care for individuals and families affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Gifts like theirs make a meaningful difference in our ability to improve lives today and pursue discoveries that will benefit future generations.”
The couple’s connection to dementia exists on both sides of the family as Kelley Williams’ paternal grandmother battled the disease for nearly a decade. During that time, his father devoted countless hours driving back and forth from Jackson to Greenwood, Mississippi, to help care for her.
“This was in the 1990s, before cell phones and the internet made caregiving and communication easier,” Kelley Williams recalled. “There was a tremendous amount of time, travel and emotional energy involved. My dad, who is an only child, was a loving and dutiful son, and cared for his mother exceptionally well, but it took a toll on him.”
Likewise, his maternal grandmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s became equally challenging for Williams’ mother and her siblings as they watched her succumb to the disease.
Together, those family experiences have given the Williamses a profound appreciation for the heartbreaking struggles faced by caregivers and loved ones.
“Dementia affects entire families, not just the person who receives the diagnosis,” said M’lee Williams, who earned a degree in nursing from UMMC. “The disease changes relationships, routines and daily life for everyone involved.”
That reality remains close to home. M’lee Williams’ mother is now living with dementia, strengthening the couple’s belief in the importance of prevention and research — two areas of focus at The MIND Center.
“We are blessed to have a resource of this caliber here in our state,” Kelley Williams said. “The work being done is crucial for families dealing with dementia today as well as for future generations who may benefit from new discoveries and advances in care.”
To support The MIND Center, visit http://www.umc.edu/givenow/ or contact Ryan Mains, director of philanthropy and engagement-The MIND Center at rmains@umc.edu or 601-815-4299.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation