Fannie C. Williams: Renowned Educator

Fannie C. Williams was born March 23, 1882, in Biloxi, Mississippi. As a teenager, she moved to New Orleans to attend high school. Once she graduated, Williams enrolled at Straight University (now Dillard University). After completing her degree at Straight, Williams received two more degrees from Michigan State Normal College at Ypsilanti (now Eastern Michigan University) in Pedagogy and a Master of Arts degree from Michigan University at Ann Arbor in 1938. 

Williams was a highly regarded educator who was responsible for beginning services that are common in today’s school system. She taught for five years in Mississippi and Michigan. The rest of her teaching career took place in New Orleans Public Schools. Upon returning from Michigan in 1921, she became the principal of Valena C. Jones Elementary School (Miro School), a position she held for over three decades until her retirement in 1954. Additionally, she oversaw Valena C. Jones Normal School, which trained African American teachers for New Orleans Public Schools from 1870 until the state mandated a four-year college degree for certification.

Fannie Williams introduced various innovative programs such as a child health program culminating in Child Health Day, free health services for students, nursery and kindergarten classes, and parent study groups testing students.

Fannie C. Williams was a distinguished member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and made significant contributions to the Central Congregational Church. She was honored with the naming of Fannie C. Williams Hall at Dillard University in 1946, and received accolades from the American Teachers Association and the National Teachers Association in 1977. Williams served as a member of the Dillard University’s Board of Trustees for 24 years.