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Happy Halloween from Milwaukee's Only “Blue Chip” Community Newspaper
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“Journalistic Excellence, Service, Integrity and Objectivity Always”
Vol. 33 No. 46 • Thurs., Nov. 13, 2014 - Wed., Nov. 19, 2014 • An NCON Publication Serving The Milwaukee Area • 65¢
Annette Polly Williams remembered for her compassion for children and families, hailed a ‘true legend’ in Wisconsin and nation By Carmen A. Murguia Special to the Milwaukee Times She was the daughter of a devoted and hard-working father, James Wade, a junk man, and a devout Christian and loving mother, Louise Wade, a seamstress, and a sister to brothers known fondly as “Blue” and “Hook.” Annette Polly Williams was born on January 10, 1937 in Belzoni, MS, and was raised for the first few years of her life in the Deep South at a time when injustice and hatred towards blacks was a way of life.
Her parents sought for a better life in the north and came to Milwaukee, WI when Annette was a young girl. She attended Lee Elementary School, where she met lifelong friend Margerie Cleghorn who went on to become Annette’s campaign manager and treasurer when she ran for office as State Representative. “I met Polly in 1949 through a friend at 4th Street School who transferred to Lee School with Polly. I remembered we went on to be very athletic at Roosevelt and we played baseball every
Williams Family Photo
'Polly' Williams with the Rev. Jesse Jackson
Annette 'Polly' Williams summer through Milwaukee Public Schools Recreation program at Lapham Park from 1950-1954. As one of the best short stops out there, Polly even gave Johnny Logan (Milwaukee Braves shortstop 1953-1961) competition,” Margerie, a catcher, said with a smile. It was this passion and drive and order in Williams’ life that catapulted her to graduate from North Division High School and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from the University of WI-Milwaukee where she would later be recognized for her contributions to the community with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
First elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1980, it was Annette’s true compassion for children and families that Margerie remembers the most about her dear friend. “Polly always wanted to help people. She’d call me at 6 a.m. on her way to Madison saying ‘Margerie go to this address on North 19th; ; they need jackets in this size and this size, or go to North 6th street, they need food.’” Her daughter, Sue (Mildred) Williams, echoed her love for helping others in need. “She (Annette) lived for the people, even after she’d got off from work she’d continue to work for children and families – she was very resourceful and she did not accept “No” for an answer,” Sue said proudly. In addition to her daughter Mildred, Annette’s children include Winston, Kimberly and Krystal. She has seven grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. “She INspected everything, she EXpected and taught us to be very responsible at a young age,” Sue expressed. As the first Democrat
Legislator in the State of Wisconsin’s history to be appointed Committee Chair by a Republican controlled Legislature, Annette Polly Williams lived by the words, “If you don’t like the way people are reacting to you, then you need to change your actions.” As a school choice trailblazer, Annette is the author of the Nation’s first true Educational Choice Legislation and the author of the Expanded School Choice Program which includes religious schools, and was acclaimed as one of the “Thirteen Innovators who changed Education in the 20th Century” by the New York Times-Education Life Magazine. “My fight is for my Black children – to be able to access this system and get the best that this system offers,” Williams once said. Her funeral is set for Tuesday, November 18th at Parklawn Assembly of God, 3725 North Sherman Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI. Visitation is from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Funeral service follows immediately.
Waukesha Branch NAACP celebrates 30th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner
Photo by George Neal
The Waukesha Branch NAACP hosted its 30th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner November 2, 2014 at the Brookfield Suites Hotel & Convention Center, 1200 South Moorland Road in Brookfield, WI. The 30th annual dinner theme was “All in for Justice & Equality.” The keynote speaker was NewsOne TV Anchor Roland Martin who told the audience “There was more work to be done.” Pictured are: scholarship recipients Antinuwa Elisha Brown, who attends Marquette University; Brandon Isaiah McKanders who is enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse; and Quinton Phillip Thomas who is enrolled at the University of Dayton (Ohio); TVOne Anchor Roland Martin, NAACP Board Member and Waukesha Branch President Lillie Wilson, and former Racine Branch NAACP President Michael Shields.
Staff Photo