When Dr. Veronica Williams reflects on her earliest childhood memories, they are filled with the warmth and wisdom of her maternal grandmother, Rebecca. Growing up in Georgia, Veronica spent countless days at her grandmother’s side, soaking in lessons about farm life, southern traditions, and unconditional love. “As the oldest in my family, I got to help my grandmother with a lot of her daily tasks,” she shares. “She taught me so much, and I treasured those days together.”
As Veronica grew up, attended dental school, got married, started her own family and opened her own family dentist practice in Jacksonville, N.C. in 2003, her grandmother still held her heart. “I always knew that when I earned enough money, the first thing I would do is buy my grandmother a house. And I did! It was my way of thanking her for all that she poured into me.”
In May 2013, Veronica had a loving, normal conversation with her grandmother—one she didn’t realize would be their last. Just weeks later, Alzheimer’s progressed so rapidly that Rebecca could no longer hold a conversation. Within eight months, she passed away.
“I was at a loss seeing how quickly Alzheimer’s changed my grandmother,” remembers Veronica. “I sought support from the Alzheimer’s Association to help me navigate through the grief.”
In the fall of 2014, Veronica and her family took part in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – New Bern event. However, the Alzheimer’s Association was looking to start a Walk in Jacksonville and recruited Veronica and several others to help launch the event in 2015.
As one of the founding leaders of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Jacksonville, Veronica helped transform grief into grassroots momentum. Her leadership, compassion, and commitment laid the groundwork for a movement that continues to grow each year.
“When we first started in 2015, we all had a personal connection,” she recalls. “We told our stories, leaned on each other, and grieved together. It was still fresh for me, and those monthly meetings—with food, laughter, and tears—were healing. We weren’t alone.”
That sense of solidarity became the foundation for a close-knit committee that supported one another through shared experiences and passion to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and other dementia. “We built friendships and memories that still mean so much.”
Over the past decade, Veronica’s watched the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Jacksonville event grow from a small circle of supporters into a vibrant community movement. Her own family team, Rebecca’s Rubies, and her dental practice team, Signature Smiles Family Dentistry, have become fixtures at the event.
“My staff knows that if they don’t come to the Walk, they don’t get their annual bonus,” she laughs. “It’s funny, but it works! Every year, my office manager’s husband—our self-proclaimed photographer—takes a team photo. We have years of Walk pictures all over the office. It’s something we do together, every year.”
Her patients have also taken notice. Some have joined her team, while others have started their own teams. The Walk has become more than an event—it’s a platform for education, connection, and hope.
“I’m praying fiercely for a cure,” she says. “I know it’s out there. We just have to hold the course until it’s manifested. We can’t give up.”
Her optimism is grounded in the progress she’s seen firsthand. “We have treatments now that can slow the progression. That’s just one step. Eventually, we’ll have a cure. I believe that wholeheartedly.”
From the walls of her dental practice to the streets of her community, her commitment to ending Alzheimer’s is visible, vibrant, and unwavering. Through laughter, leadership, and love, she’s helping to build a future where no one has to face this disease alone.
Dr. Veronica Williams’ story is a testament to the power of love, community, and unwavering hope. Whether through her dental practice, her family, or her voice, she continues to inspire others to join the fight against Alzheimer’s. To honor her grandmother’s legacy and help bring us closer to a cure, Veronica continues to walk, advocate, and inspire—believing that one day, no family will have to face Alzheimer’s alone.
LIKE VERONICA, WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO FIGHT FOR A WORLD WITHOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. Join your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s today as an individual, team, or sponsor.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 walks across North Carolina. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association® mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2025 dates in North Carolina:
| Alamance County | 9/27/25 |
| Asheville | 9/27/25 |
| Charlotte | 10/18/25 |
| Fayetteville | 10/25/25 |
| Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln | 10/11/25 |
| Guilford County | 10/25/25 |
| Henderson County | 9/27/25 |
| Iredell Co. & Lake Norman | 9/27/25 |
| Jacksonville | 9/27/25 |
| Moore County | 9/13/25 |
| Mount Airy | 9/20/25 |
| New Bern | 10/18/25 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus | 10/4/25 |
| Unifour | 10/25/25 |
| Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) | 10/4/25 |
| Wilmington | 11/1/25 |
| Winston-Salem | 11/16/25 |
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 