Lefreda Schneider Williams, 87, of Southern Pines, NC, passed away on August 29, 2024. Preceded in death by her two sons, Arthur W. and Jeffrey P. Williams, brothers, Frederick W. and Phillip V. Schneider, parents, Lefreda W. Vanderbilt, Phillip J. Schneider, and stepfather Peter F. Rhoades, and grandparents, O. De Grey Vanderbilt and Madelon E. Weir. Survived by daughter, Sandra L. Williams, granddaughters Lindsay S. Rose and Shannon C. Butler, and great-granddaughters Caydence A. and Jocelyn H. Dick.
A lifelong horsewoman, Lefreda was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1937. Her first foxhunt was with the Camargo Hunt at age eight. During her youth, she purchased, trained, and hunted a young thoroughbred named Bold Minstrel, who later achieved Olympic Gold with rider Michael J. Plumb, a lifelong friend.
Lefreda moved to Southern Pines in the late eighties where she cultivated a large local network and was the host of countless social gatherings at her home, the “Treehouse.” She was a founding member of the Southern Pines Horse Trials and the Carolina Horse Park, along with organizer of the Longleaf Pines Horse Trials, the American Eventing Championships (04-07), and the Carolina International Competition (CIC), a qualifying event for the Olympics.
Lefreda’s other passions were running her Norwich Terriers in agility shows, square dancing, singing with the Moore County Choral Society, playing pickleball and duplicate bridge, knitting, needlepointing, reading, wearing sparkly garments, and drinking Franzia White Zinfandel from a box. To her family, she was endearingly referred to as “GG,” the Galloping Grandmother.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of Lefreda’s beloved local interests.
