The James & Ursula Williams Family Fund Teacher Grants Program

Ursula Bell Williams (1928 – 2016) and Louis (James) Charles Williams (1928 – 2011)

James was the third of seven children born to Peter and Cleola Williams on January 8th, 1928 in Vallejo, California. In 1919, the Williams Family was one of the first Black American families to settle and prosper in the City of Vallejo. James attended McKinley Elementary, Vallejo Jr. High School, Vallejo Senior High School, and received his Associate of Arts Degree in Business at Vallejo Junior College.

He began a lifetime of hard work at the age of 9, when he and his older brother, Jasper, had one of the largest bi-daily newspaper routes in the City of Vallejo. James, learned the important values of family dedication, hard work, and land ownership from the work ethic handed down to him, by two generations of Black California farmers. In 1946, after graduating from high school, “Jim” had the distinction of becoming one of the first Black Americans to work for a privately owned retail business located in downtown Vallejo. After a distinguished 44-year career, he retired in 1989 as the General Buyer for Meyers’ Jewelers, a chain of jewelry stores located in Northern California.

He was active in the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Family Movement (CFM), and delivered Meal on Wheels for 10 years after his retirement. He was happily married to Ursula, “Bia”, for 62 years and was loved and respected by his children and grandchildren! He touched hundreds of lives during his 83 years as resident of Vallejo. He was honored by over 400 grateful family, friends, and community members, who attended his funeral services.

Ursula was the seventh and last child born to John and Margaret Bell, on December 2, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana. As part of the “Great American Migration”, she traveled North by train with her mother and arrived in Vallejo, CA in 1943 at the age of fifteen. She graduated class of 1946 from Vallejo Senior High School where she met the love of her life, James Williams. She received her AA Degree from Vallejo Jr. College (now Solano Community College).

In 1949, Ursula’s first job was as a clerk typist at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. In 1954, while working full time, with 3 children ages 6 months, 2, and 4, she decided to enhance her education and pursue a career as a certified court reporter. She graduated from the Academy of Stenographic Art on June 21, 1958 as the first Black Female Certified Court Reporter in Solano County. After retiring as a court reporter, she began a second career in politics, working as Staff Assistant to State Senator John Dunlap, Congressmen Robert Leggett and Vic Fazio, and U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. She served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in the early 1980’s.

She was active in the following community organizations: a member of the Highlighters Social Club, a volunteer docent at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, first Black member of Soroptimist International of Vallejo; on the Board of Directors of the Vallejo Girls Club and the Solano County Library; Lifetime Member of the NAACP, and President of the Solano County Catholic Social Service Auxiliary; she was a member of the National Council of Negro Women, Solano County Minority Coalition for Cancer Prevention, Vallejo Commission on Aging, Vallejo Special Committee for the Senior Citizen Center, and the Solano County Prevention of Abuse to Children. She was a Charter Member of the Solano County Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. As a community activist, she was awarded:

• Humanitarian of the Year (1989, by the Navy City Elks in Vallejo)
• Spirit of African Americans in Vallejo (1994, by American Savings Bank)
• Women of Excellence (1994, Jack & Jill of America, (Oakland Bay Area Chapter)

Ursula was happily married to James, “Papa”, for 62 years and successfully raised and educated three children, Michelle, Kathleen, and Mark. She was an amazing example of a loving wife, mother, and friend to her children, grandchildren, and community members.