Rachel Lenora Ramsey was born on November 30, 1912 in Buena Vista, Shelby County to parents John Ross Rascow Ramsey, Sr. and Edith Bertha Morrison.  She had nine siblings, Lois Rebecca Ramsey (1896-1904), Pearl Dewey Ramsey (1898-1900), Mary Dee Ramsey (1900-1986), John Talmage Ramsey (1902-1967), Edith Levinia Ramsey (1905-1993), Joseph Bascom Ramsey (1907-1973), Horace Edgar Ramsey (1910-1997), Morris Edward Ramsey (1910-1910) and Thomas Preston Ramsey (1916-1988). 

Rachel graduated from Timpson High School in 1931.  On June 9, 1933 she married Lorenzo Dow McWilliams.  They had three children, Lorenzo McWilliams, Dee Ann McWilliams and David McWilliams.  For many years Rachel and Dow owned and operated the Cotton Gin in Timpson, Texas.  Rachel died on November 18, 2001 in Whitehouste, Texas.