Willie Lee Williams

WILLIE LEE WILLIAMS

Born to Annie and Walter Williams on December 5, 1950, in Seattle, Washington, Willie L. Williams a noted educator, community advocate and dedicated Christian, transitioned from this life to eternal rest on April 15, 2011.

Raised in West Seattle and educated in the Seattle Public Schools, Willie earned an academic scholarship to attend Princeton University in 1969. While studying and playing football at Princeton he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degrees History with a minor in African and African American Studies. During his tenure at Princeton, Willie was blessed with his first child, a daughter Maisha, who currently resides in Atlanta.

His upbringing combined with his collegiate studies was the catalyst for what would be a lifetime devoted to improving and empowering the community through education and community activism.

After graduating from Princeton, Willie's commitment to the underprivileged and underrepresented manifest itself immediately when he took his first job teaching in Trenton New Jersey's public school system. He continued working with young people when he returned to his native Seattle where he worked at a variety of academic institutions, including Seattle Public Schools, Seattle Community Colleges, Lakeside School and ITT Technical Institute. The students in his classes were inspired and engaged by the courses that he developed such as Minority Politics in America, History & Philosophy of Vocational Education and Psychology of Human Relations.

Not just a teacher, but also a student, Willie held a Masters Degree in Education from Antioch University and was to complete his PhD in Education and Organization Leadership in June 2011 from NOVA Southeastern University.

While his professional life was phenomenal and robust, his greatest achievement was his family. Married to his best friend and soul mate, Glenda Williams, for more than two decades, together they had two beautiful children, Brandi and Jonathan. A family man, some of Willie's favorite days were spent coaching little league teams, family vacations, organizing basketball camps, tournaments and attending school functions for his children. Among his other hobbies were: photography, jazz, reading, art, theatre, and a connoisseur of exotic and fine dining.

Whether it was working at Monroe Department of Corrections with the Black Prisoners Caucus, or as a member of an Action Committee to eliminate disproportionality in Seattle Public Schools, or organizing a community basketball camp, he always believed in the people on whose behalf he worked. He was always a liaison between people and their community. A member of countless community boards, task forces and advisory counsels such as the High Point and Southwest Community Center Advisory Councils, Edwin T. Pratt Scholarship Selection Committee Member - Seattle Urban League, Central Area Motivation Program Board Member and Criminal Justice Efficiencies Task Force Member - Seattle Municipal Court, his dedication to the community was unparalleled. He was also a longtime member of the Prince Hall Masons.

Willie believed that through human relations and education we make the community a better place. Most recently, as the principal owner of Consulting for Success, Willie took his educational and professional experience and incorporated it into a spiritual vocation – “ doing God's work.”

Throughout his life, Willie's relationship with God was central. A member of the Church of Christ for more than thirty years, his spirituality defined him, his work ethic, his relationship with others and devotion as a family man. Willie leaves to cherish his memory, his mother, Annie R. Williams, 2 sisters Maggie James and Cathy Williams; three children, Brandi, Jonathan, and Maisha, his life long love, Glenda Williams, his grandson Ade, and a host of other relatives, and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.