Nora Williams, 103 - "Queen Mother" of cultural center
Kathi
Nonprofit cultural center's 'Queen Mother' helped kids
Mark Hicks / The Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080519/OBITUARIES/805190345/1263
Nora Williams earned her title as "Queen Mother" of the Kabaz Cultural
Center.
In more than three decades with the Detroit nonprofit, she visited
often to assist with activities, participate in programs, support
children there and "help in all ways," said her daughter, Audrey "Ayo"
Hunter.
"She was deeply involved," said Hunter, the center's founder and
executive director. "She was quite a giving person -- the perfect
giver of love."
Mrs. Williams died Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at her home. She was 103.
Born Feb. 16, 1905, in Parksville, S.C., Nora Rebecca Collins was the
youngest of 12 children raised by sharecroppers.
After living in Augusta, Ga., she relocated to Detroit with her
husband, Sam Williams, in 1942.
Becoming a housekeeper, Mrs. Williams worked with local families
through her 70s.
She attended St. Ruth Holy Science Temple in Detroit and was honored
by the Greater Detroit Area Health Council for completing an active
living program, her family said.
At the Kabaz Cultural Center on Mount Elliott in Detroit, Mrs.
Williams worked with children in numerous activities, including
craft-making and storytelling.
She also accompanied them on field trips to the Charles H. Wright
Museum of African American History, the Detroit Science Center and
other sites.
"If they got out of order, she had her own special way of dealing ...
out of love," Hunter said. "She could get more from them. ... They
just loved it."
A frequent visitor to the Sophie Wright Settlement Community Center in
Detroit, Mrs. Williams enjoyed joining outings, including playing
bingo and winning at spades.
"She played her last hand at 102," Hunter said. "We couldn't get her
out of high heels until age 100. She was quite a lady."
Other survivors include 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and
21 great-great-grandchildren.
Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
.
---- Posted via Pronews.com - Premium Corporate Usenet News Provider ----
http://www.pronews.com offers corporate packages that have access to 100,000+ newsgroups