MeMe Williamson, matriarch of Old Point Comfort Yacht Club (OPCYC), was the oldest active member. She passed from us on November 2, 2015, at 98 years “young”.
Married to her late husband Ben “Pop” Williamson for 70 years, she was co-owner of the fair yacht Sunlion. MeMe and Pop purchased a West Indies 38 sailboat in 1984 and insisted on keeping the name she already had at the time - Sunlion - or they would not purchase the boat. Sunlion could always be picked out of a crowd as she sported a large, smiling sunburst on each side of her bow. The couple cruised and raced her extensively in the Southern Bay and Hampton Roads.
Well into her 90’s, MeMe would still be seen on the deck of Sunlion ready to fling the lines to anyone standing on the dock waiting to help secure the boat. MeMe was active until an altercation with a patch of sidewalk ice a couple of years ago slowed her down a notch. When she was no longer able to tend lines on Sunlion she would nevertheless be down below making sandwiches for the crew during a race.
In 2000, when the years advanced and MeMe and Pop were no longer able to handle the boat themselves, they passed beloved Sunlion to their son Robert with the stipulation that Sunlion would not leave the dock without Pop and MeMe on board (“where Sunlion goes, we go”).
At the young age of 95, MeMe was Cruise Captain for the “Donut “cruise to Smithfield Station, where OPCYC gathered to share donuts prepared by her grandson, Kirk Ring, owner of Ringo’s Donuts in Smithfield, VA.
MeMe cruised the Bay extensively, even during some Winter months when the frost was on the pumpkin and the docks. Her last trip on Sunlion was at the age of 96 and was from Cape Charles, VA to Southport, NC.
The Ben and MeMe Williamson Cruising Award was established in 2003 in honor of their contributions to fostering and growing the OPCYC cruising program. The award is presented annually to the club member who contributed substantially to the cruising program during the year.
Always a party girl, MeMe attended most of the gatherings at the clubhouse. When arriving at a yacht club function, the first thing for members to do was to get a hug from MeMe.
A unique and lovely person, MeMe lived a full and long life, leaving behind to cherish her memory lots of family, as well as many friends. MeMe is sorely missed by all who were fortunate enough to have loved and been loved by her. When you see Sunlion out on the Bay, be sure to think of MeMe.
As remembered by Captain Michael Turner, Old Point Comfort YC
