Aleta Williams
1923-2018
Williams, Edna Aleta Theadora
(Johnston) – Mom, Nan, GG, Aleta. Sunrise
September 19, 1923 – Sunset April 4, 2018. « The Queen
is residing in her Heavenly Home. »
Born
in Halifax, at 154 Creighton Street, Edna Aleta Theadora (Johnston)
Williams moved to New Glasgow on her wedding day.
Aleta
was baptized in Cornwallis Street United Baptist Church at the age of
13. She was organist and choir director at Cornwallis Street United
Baptist Church 1939-1944. Mom was also a Sunday School teacher, CGIT
and BYPU officer. She was a member of the Halifax YWCA Comrade Cub;
President Comrade Club; Senior Council Member, Halifax YWCA, 1946;
Senior Council president, Halifax YWCA, 1948. Mom attended Halifax
schools, including Joseph Howe, Bloomfield High and Maritime Business
College graduating with a secretarial diploma. Aleta was the first
African Nova Scotia woman to achieve this distinction.
Mom
was a typist with the Treasury Department (Navy) from January 13, 1944
until 1949.
Aleta
married Albert Murray Williams (deceased, 1972) of New Glasgow in
1949. Together, they raised seven children.
To
quote her, « After being a ‘stay at home Mom’
until my family was complete, my husband Murray and I decided I would
return to the work force part-time. My first job was with the
Presbyterian Maritime Secretary, Maritime Building, New Glasgow,
Deacon Christine Shaw, 1965-1967. Then I joined Thompson &
Sutherland Business Office, New Glasgow, 1967-69. »
Mom’s
next job was with The New Glasgow Evening News. The editor, Harry
Sutherland, was aware of articles she had previously sent to the paper
over the years, for the church and individuals, and offered her a job
in editorial (the first Indigenous Nova Scotian Black person to be
employed with a mainstream media outlet in the province.) That was in
1968. The 20 years on staff were not only happy but most
rewarding.
Her
first position was as a reporter and assisting the Family Editor. A
few months later she was offered the position. The rest, as they say,
is history. Aleta was responsible for two weekly columns: Girl
Friday which took her into the county where she met countless
people; and Chatter Corner which included recipes and current
topics. After retiring from the newspaper, Mom accepted the
opportunity to return as a part-time columnist. She continued to
provide many articles/columns and was well into her 80s when she
decided to finally retire due to health concerns.
Mom
was always involved in the church and wider community. In New Glasgow,
she formed the Mixed Chorus of Second United Baptist Church which she
directed and accompanied 1950-1955. She also directed the
church’s Brotherhood Choir, 1980-. She has the honour of
being the only female member of the Men’s Brotherhood, 1995-
and was their treasurer 1995-. Mom has the distinction of being the
only female member of the Laymen’s Council of the AUBA. She
co-led the CGIT of the church. Mom has been a member of the Ladies
Auxiliary, Second United Baptist Church, since 1949. She has held a
number of positions including President, Secretary, Accompanist, Choir
Director and Member, Program Committee. Aleta was assistant organist
of the church for over 50 years and interim organist for three years.
She has also served as organist and choir director with a number of
churches of different denominations throughout Pictou County: organist
and choir director, St. Paul Presbyterian Church, Merigomish; organist
and choir director, St. James Anglican Church, 1983-85; interim
organist and choir director, Trenton United Church, Trenton; organist
and choir director, St. Bee’s Anglican Church, Westville,
1996-2003. Mom returned to Second United Baptist Church as interim
organist and choir director from 2003 to 2006.
Aleta
has held numerous offices throughout the African United Baptist
Association of Nova Scotia including: Clerk, 1980-1990; Area IV
representative, African United Baptist Association Women’s
Institute, 1981; AUBA Women’s Institute 1st vice president,
1982; president, 1985-1987, Women’s Institute representative
to the Black United Front of Nova Scotia, 1985-1987; and Provincial
Organist 1985-2009.
Mom was the Second United Baptist Church representative to
the Pictou County Council of Churches, 1978-82. She acted as the
Council’s Publicity Chair, 1978-2010. She was secretary,
Area IV, Atlantic United Baptist Convention, 1989-1993.
Aleta
was a founding member of the Pictou County YM-YWCA. She was a member
of the Board of Directors, 1967-1977; Corresponding Secretary,
1974-75, and vice-president, 1975-77.
Mom
was a member of the Acadia/Brown Home & School Association,
1955-1974. She held the offices of President, Acadia/Brown Home
& School Association; President, Pictou County Council of Home
& School Associations; Family Life Committee and Chair,
Provincial Federation of Home & School
Associations.
Aleta
was a founding member and past officer of the Pictou County
Interracial Society, member, Board of Directors, Pictou County Big
Brothers Big Sisters, 1984-1986; and member, Board of Directors,
Pictou County United Way, 1983-1996. She was a founding member;
Member, Board of Directors, Publicity Chair and member, volunteers,
Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care, 1985-2010.
Mom
is a past-president Pictou County Seniors Festival. She was also a
media representative for a number of volunteer organizations in the
county.
Aleta
has mentored many in the Pictou County area, encouraging them on their
educational and Christian paths.
Some
of the awards she has received include The United Way 1993; Girot
Award, Black Cultural Center 1999; Pictou County Music Festival;
Second United Baptist Church; Cultural Heritage Award, Town of New
Glasgow 2004 (she was the second New Glasgow resident to receive this
seldom-offered award); Palliative Care Volunteer Award 2005; AUBA WI
– 50-year member and 20-year organist; and Canadian Bible
Society. She was featured in a N.S. Senior Secretariat publication.
For over 30 years Aleta has been listed in the Marquis Who’s
Who in America.
Mom
has survived cancer a number of times and lived with a disease which
stole her hearing in one ear and reduced it in another. She said,
« If you sit at home and think of all your ailments,
it’s going to help them, not you. »
Mom
is the last surviving member of her immediate family. She is survived
by seven children, Murleta, Norma, Martin, Charla, Kerrick, Renwick
and Julia; Grandchildren, Tracey, Jonathyn, Danielle, Ashley, and
Nathaniel; Great-Grandchildren, Cameron, Olivia, Hayden, Lily,
Scarlett, and Annabelle.
Mom
was predeceased by her parents, the late Clarence H. and Edna Mae
(Lewis) Johnston; Brothers, Clarence in infancy and Noel H.L.;
Sisters, Jeanette in infancy and Claritta; Husband, Albert Murray
Williams; Grandson, Murray Trevor Williams; In-laws Albert Osborne and
Gussie Amelia (Desmond) Williams.
Funeral
arrangements are entrusted to R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont
Ave., New Glasgow, with visitation 2-4 and 6-9 pm Friday, April 13,
where a Ladies Auxiliary service will be held at 7 pm. Celebration of
Life will occur Saturday, April 14at 2 pm in First Presbyterian
Church, New Glasgow, with Rev. Dr. Glen Matheson and Rev. Dr. Morley
Shaw officiating. Reception to follow private family
burial.
Memorial
donations may be made to the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society, New
Glasgow or the Ladies Auxiliary of Second United Baptist Church, PO
Box 51, New Glasgow, NS, B2H 5E1.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Aleta Williams 19232018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Trenton, Province: Nova Scotia
