COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – A Coffee County teacher who has spent years pouring into her students is now being lifted by the very community she has always served.
Eastside Elementary School teacher Kendra Williams is in her sixth year of teaching, driven by what she says has always kept her in the classroom: the love of her students.
“The love of the kids, the time we get to spend with them, not just educationally, but mentoring and teaching life lessons,” Williams said.
That passion never faded even after a life-changing diagnosis.
Williams says she battled anemia for years, with persistently low iron levels that continued despite multiple treatments. Concerned, her primary care doctor ordered additional testing, including a colonoscopy and endoscopy. A biopsy revealed cancer.
“I actually got the call here at work,” Williams said. “Just hearing that big ‘C’ word was tough. But I knew the only way to get through it was to move forward.”
Williams underwent surgery in December in Gainesville, Florida, where doctors removed the cancer and 20 lymph nodes. While most were clear, one lymph node showed microscopic cancer cells, placing her at Stage 3A.
“That one out of 20 actually gave me the best possibility,” she said. “It’s considered the best-case scenario for Stage 3.”
Now undergoing chemotherapy, Williams says one of the hardest moments came before treatment even began, during a walkthrough at the cancer center.
“They said they had everything I needed and told me to pick a chair,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting that. That moment was really hard.”
Williams will undergo four rounds of IV chemotherapy, paired with oral medication taken in cycles over several months. She says the first treatment was difficult and caught her by surprise, but she continues to show up every day for her students.
“I love showing up for them,” she said. “They’re amazing.”
In return, her school family and the broader community have stepped up greatly.
Eastside Elementary has launched multiple fundraisers to support Williams during her treatment, including a “Kendra Strong” T-shirt campaign and a strawberries and cookie dough fundraiser. School leaders say 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to Williams to help cover medical and related expenses.
T-shirt orders run through February 6, with Kendra Strong Day scheduled for March 6. The strawberries and cookie dough fundraiser runs through February 11, with delivery expected in early March.
Those closest to Williams say giving back to her was never a question.
“She gives her time, her dedication, and her heart to students long after they leave her classroom, never for the credit,” one supporter shared. “She’s always been the cheerleader and the mentor. This was something we wanted to do.”
At the center of Williams’ fight is her 14-year-old daughter, Jaleigha.
“Everything I do is for her,” Williams said. “I want to live a long life and continue being here for her.”
As she continues treatment, Williams says her faith, her students, and her family are what keep her going, believing that one day, she’ll get to leave that chair behind.
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