1906-1994
Bessie Walker Williams was a community activist who advocated for voter rights, and was active for senior causes, and urban gardening. Bessie graduated from Rutgers with her Bachelor’s degree in 1985 at age 79.
Bessie ran voter registration drives in her neighborhood. She ran voter registration drives in her neighborhood and was also a district leader.
With Louise Epperson and others she established the Van Vechten Community Organization, at the Otto Kretchmer Homes, in 1975 to work on nutrition, health care and social services, especially for seniors. She wrote to the House of Representatives Committee on Aging, detailing the problems she had accessing health care as a senior. Later, she made a statement to the committee. She spoke before City Council many times, during and after this work.
After moving to 2 Nevada St, a senior building, she helped beautiful backyard garden through the Newark Urban Gardening Program. Bessie was the coordinator of the 2 Nevada Street Garden Club, which consisted of 16 members, and was supported by the Newark Urban Gardening Program. In 1984, the club won first place in the American Community Garden Contest, new garden site category. “We knew our vegetables were of number one quality…we grew the biggest and the juiciest vegetables you have ever tastedd,” said Bessie. The group won $500 for the garden.
She was a trustee and coordinator of the Gereontological Social Relationship Organization at 2 Nevada. In 1979, she was named to the special citizens panel of the Essex County Division on Aging, and spoke at meetings and hearings about the problems of senior citizens saying, “We’re people too” and suggesting new ways were needed for “young and old to relate better”. In 1980 she participated in a conference on aging at Seton Hall University.
In 1975, Bessie received her GED from ECC, and then an Associates in 1977. She wrote to Newark’s newspaper Information praising ESS President J. Harry Smith. In 1985, she received her Bachelor’s of Sociology at age 79, she said “I always wanted to go to school but we couldn’t afford it.” She’d attended a girls school run by Mary McLeod Bethune, who was a great inspiration, but she’d been forced to leave after the death of her mother.
In 1979, she wrote a letter to the Star Ledger supporting Black student demonstrators at Rutgers, who were protesting racial discrimination saying, “I am willing and ready to aid in any way I can.” In 1983, she expressed outrage that Newark didn’t have a program to care for the homeless.
At Bethany Baptist Church, Bessie was very active and helped organize Black History programs. She was also a member of the Newark Martin Luther King Commission, helping organize programs.
Bessie was honored for her work by the Newark Commission on the Status of Women. She was named a Distinguised Citizen of 1983 by the Sharpe James Civic Association. In 1990 she received a Women of Achievement Award from the National Political Congress of Black Women, Metro-Newark Chapter.
Barbara Kukla’s article upon the death of Williams, stated she was also involved in a community health clinic. Additionally, Kukla mentioned she was a mentor to a staff member at 2 Nevada Street, who she met when he was 16, Stephen Outing. Together, they founded Intergenerational Youth Org. to bridge the gap between generations. “She was my mentor, teacher and advisor he said.”
Bessie grew up in Florida with Louise Epperson, before moving to New York in 1939, and Newark in 1960.
Bibliography
Kukla, Barbara, “Friends Neighbors Remember Community Minded Pioneer” Star Ledger Aug 22, 1994
Cummings, Charles F. “In Civil Rights, Charity and Politics they Made Their Mark” Star Ledger Mar 31, 2005
Jones, Angela, “A Newark Seniors Pursuit of Learning” Star Ledger May 24, 1985
“Around Town” Star Ledger Dec 15, 1980
“Black protestors praised” Star Ledger Apr 22, 1979
“17 Seniors Named as Policy Advisors” Herald News Sept 12, 1979
“Conference on Aging Set” Herald News May 27, 1980
Kukla, Barbara, “Seniors Voice View on Best Use of Funding” Star Ledger Sept 29, 1980
“Civic association honors community leaders” Star Ledger Jul 4, 1983
“Champions Grew Juiciest Group” and cont “Champion Gardeners Reap Rewards” Star Ledger Nov 12, 1984
“Help for the Homeless” Star Ledger Sept 26, 1983
“Weekend Events Will Celebrate Women’s History Month” Star Ledger Mar 5, 1990
Newark Library Archives, mentions in Municipal Council items etc.