Willie L. Williams ’73

Willie transitioned from this life to eternal rest April 15, 2011, in Seattle.

Willie came to Princeton from Chief Sealth High School in Seattle, where he starred in football, basketball, and track. At Princeton he also played football and was part of the dynamic backfield with Bill Early on the undefeated freshman team. He roomed with Clarence Beatty and majored in history with a concentration in African and Afro-American studies.

After Princeton, Willie committed himself to serving underprivileged communities and took his first job teaching in the Trenton, N.J., public-school system. He continued his teaching career in various positions in the Seattle Public Schools, Seattle community colleges, Lakeside School, and ITT Technical Institute. His work went beyond the classroom, as he was active with the local Black Prisoners Caucus and countless community boards, task forces, and advisory councils in the Seattle area. He was an active member of the Church of Christ, and his spirituality was reflected in his work. He earned a master’s degree in education from Antioch University and was about to receive a Ph.D. in education from Nova Southeastern University in June 2011.

Willie is survived by his lifelong love, Glenda Williams; three children, Brandi, Jonathan, and Maisha; and a grandson, Ade.