Winnie B. Taylor Williams and husband, John “J.C.” Williams, Sr., were Civil Rights advocates in Marlin, Texas (Falls County). The couple were married for 58 years, until Winnie passed away in 2007. They were business owners and community leaders, organizers, activist. During the Civil Rights movement, both were members of the “Integration Club”, which was established to assist and support black students as they transitioned/integrated into a mixed school system. Winnie B. Williams served as vice president, along with Ms. Lucille Hamilton, president. Winnie participated in “sit-ins” at Houston’s Restaurant, sitting in on white school board meetings. Both Winnie and J.C. were members of the NAACP. J.C. was the first black to run for a seat on the Marlin School Board, after integration (He lost the race by a slim margin). Winnie and J.C. allowed many Civil Rights groups to hold meetings at their restaurant, Williams Snack Center. The couple was active participants in all the groups they hosted at their restaurant. They organized, sponsored and participated in fund raisers for Civil Rights causes. J.C. served as treasurer for recreation programs within the area’s Civil Rights Movement. Both, Winnie and J.C. were members of the “Citizens’ Organization”, a club which focused on voter issues, such as helping women to obtain the right to vote outside of the “Poll Tax” rule.
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Church Affiliation:South Union Baptist Church; Upper Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Role in the Movement:Winnie B. Taylor Williams and husband, John “J.C.” Williams, Sr., were long-time business owners of Williams Snack Center, and Civil Rights advocates in Marlin, Texas (Falls County).
Birth Place:Mumford Bottom - Calvert, Texas (Robertson County)
Born Date:November 4, 1927
Deceased Date:March 8, 2007
Place Lived as Adult:Marlin, Texas
Church Location:Marlin, Texas