Mrs. Annette Polly Williams

Annette Polly Williams was born January 10, 1937 to the union of James and Louise Wade in Belzoni, Mississippi. Polly received her formal education in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she attended Lee Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High and North Division High School. She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Polly lectured at institutions including Harvard, Yale, Marquette, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins universities. She received such awards as UW-Milwaukee Lifetime Achievement Award, UW-Milwaukee Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus, National Black Caucus of State Legislators President's Award for Distinguished Service, and she was named as one of the New York Times' Thirteen Innovators Who Changed Education in the 20th Century. Polly accepted Christ as at early age. She was an active member of Parklawn Assembly of God and served on the Hospitality Committee. Polly was united in holy matrimony to Winston Williams, Jr. on September 6, 1956. This union was blessed with four children. Polly was the longest serving elected African American in the Wisconsin State Assembly. She gained national prominence while serving as a powerful and influential state legislator when she created the school voucher program, an innovative program developed to give parents, especially those from low-income families an opportunity to have a say in the quality of education their children were receiving. She was elected to the legislature in 1980 (serving 30+ years) until he retirement. Polly collected and distributed clothing to people who came to Milwaukee after Hurricane Katrina; assisted residents of the St. Michael Hospital area after their homes were flooded from a heavy rain storm (later becoming their spokesman); and served relentlessly to protect the rights of community residents. In her leisure, she enjoyed spending time with her family and baking cakes for church members and friends - Coconut Cake being her favorite. In 1984, she served as a chairperson for Rev. Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign and was actively involved in the election campaign for President Barack Obama. Up until her passing, she had also served as a morning talk show host for "The Polly Williams Show" on WNOV AM 860. Annette Polly Williams departed November 9, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary's Hospital. She was preceded in death by her mother, Louise Wade; her father, James Wade, Sr.; and a brother, Jessie "Hook" Wade. Polly is survived by a brother, James "Blue" Wade, Jr.; former husband, Winston Williams, Jr.; a son, Winston Williams, III (Lynette); three daughters, Mildred ("Sue") Williams, Kimberly Ann Burns, and Krystal Renee Oby (Joe); and a host of grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mrs. Annette Polly Williams

January 10, 1937 - November 9, 2014