The sweet and magnanimous Sheila Anne Williams Boyd was carried in the arms of her angels to the Lord on Saturday, November 6, 2021. She was born April 11, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois to Kathryn Walker and James Ferguson. Sheila professed her faith in Christ early in life and was baptized in Chicago. Her marriage to Lawrence Williams resulted in the birth of her cherished daughter, Christine who was nearby as she departed this life.
 
Sheila was a lifelong learner and after graduating from Calumet High School, earned a BSBA in Accounting with honors from Roosevelt University. While attending Roosevelt, she was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa and Franklin Honor Societies. Sheila continued her education by earning a Master of Business Administration from the Executive MBA program of the University of Chicago. She was also a certified public accountant and a certified internal auditor. 

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Sheila was very active in the business community as evidenced by her memberships in the National Association of Female Executives, Institute of Internal Auditors (Past Board Member and Member of the Year), University of Chicago Executive MBA Program Club (Past President) and the National MBA Association. She was also named one of the ‘Promising Women in Corporate America’ by Ebony Magazine, was a Hall of Fame Inductee by Dollars & Sense Magazine, listed in the Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs and Financial Executives and received a ‘Notable Woman of Texas’ designation while residing in Texas.

Sheila started her career at an international public accounting firm followed by more than fifteen years at BP Amoco Corporation. During her tenure at BP Amoco, she was promoted to increasingly challenging positions until the company was acquired. After leaving BP Amoco, she served as the chief financial officer of several companies. Finally, she established SAWB Consulting to focus on supporting non-profits, small and emerging businesses. Many other local CPAs and accounting professionals referred their more challenging clients to her since she had a particular expertise in improving the financial controls and reporting of challenged businesses.

Sheila had natural magnetism and charm that allowed her to make friends wherever she went. She was a force all her own. She had a heart of gold, always giving and helping others. She did not want fanfare or credit. She gave because it was the right thing to do. Sheila also had a lovely spirit, and it was clear that she walked in the light of God. She often talked about how grateful she was for the littlest of things and how she knew that her angels were always with her. Sheila cherished every moment of motherhood and poured her heart into raising her daughter, and bonus children entrusted to her by her sister and niece. She also assisted in providing love, guidance, and continuous support to her namesake granddaughter Christine Sheila (aka SheShe). Known to her granddaughter and the children of Homewood as Mommyanne, Sheila made her presence felt by stepping in as room mom, advocating for students with absent parents, and assisting her granddaughter's girl scout troop to cookie and nut sale victory! She adored every aspect of encouraging youth to excel, and was able to change the course of many that welcomed her care.
 
Preceding Sheila in death were her parents, Kathryn Walker and James Ferguson
 
She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted daughter Christine and darling grand-daughter Christine Sheila (SheShe), her beloved bonus daughters and son Kelly, Jamie, Michael, and second namesake little Sheila, her supportive brothers Skip, and James, and her lovely sisters Gale, Rea, and Sherry.

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Her physical presence is with the Lord, but Sheila lives on in the hearts and souls of everyone she touched. Today we celebrate and remember the life of an amazing woman.