DOTHAN, Alabama – A new queen has taken her reign in the Dothan community to help advocate for older citizens. Josephine Williams, 85, has been chosen as the new Ms. Westside Terrace Healthcare and will represent the long-term care facility. The former teacher’s assistant was chosen from a field of 10 competitors during an afternoon pageant at Westside.

She follows in the footsteps of fellow resident Sarah “Sally” Scott, who was crowned Ms. Westside Terrace in 2017 before becoming the current Ms. Alabama Nursing Home. Williams enjoys meeting new people, volunteering, helping others, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Her people skills are going to come in handy during her reign as she will be participating in monthly activities at Westside and speaking about long-term care throughout the community.

“Ms. Williams is such a joy to have here,” facility administrator Kristie Hughes said. “We are so proud to have her represent us and help advocate for people in long-term care.”

A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Williams moved to Alabama in 2007 to be near family and has been a resident at Westside for 10 months. She is relatively new to the facility, but she has taken on a number of activities at Westside such as resident council and the Red Hat Society. Williams was a long-time volunteer at her local church, Pleasant Shade Baptist Church, where she served as an usher, missionary and Sunday School teacher.

Williams has eight living children, 17 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.