Joseph B. Williams

Feb 22, 1913 - Jul 1, 2015

Joseph passed peacefully in San Francisco. Deeply saddened but grateful to be present at his passing was his lifelong companion Kathleen Jue.

Born in Harrisburg, North Carolina and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate he established the NAACP chapter at West Virginia State University. Following his graduation, he managed a USO for black soldiers during WWII in Marysville, CA. He then moved to San Francisco where he worked for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Within a short period of time, he soon realized that he could better advance his ideals and defend the less privileged in our society if he became an attorney. He graduated from Lincoln Law University, SF, and admitted to practice law in California in June 1956.

He was dedicated to the civil rights movement; served on the Board of Directors, NAACP, San Francisco Branch (1958-76), chaired its Legal Redress committee, working with many corporate employers to provide job opportunities to qualified black job seekers (1957-64), chaired its Labor Committee (1964-67), and negotiated with labor unions, all types of businesses, and public utilities to ensure job recruitment and hiring of minorities; as President of the SF NAACP, he actively participated at several national conventions, and served on numerous local and national committees, which included: the Freeman Movement Committee in the Bay Area, which he chaired; was a longtime member of the Judicial Committee of the Bar Association of San Francisco; and served on the National Board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

Throughout his legal and distinguished political career, he founded the San Francisco Black Leadership Forum, served on the San Francisco Board of Permit Appeals (1968-75), served as vice president and board member of the San Francisco Mental Health Association, served as a member of the Charter Revision Commission, SF, served as a judge of the Moot Court at UC Boalt Hall School of Law (1971-75), served as a member of the GGNRA Advisory Commission for more than 23 years, served as the Inheritance Tax Appraiser for the State of California, served as the Regional Administrator of the Western Region Nine USA General Services Administration.

During his lifetime, he was a role model for, and mentor to many young people, and encouraged them never to lose track of their dreams.

We will miss him. Joseph will be remembered most for his thoughtful and caring heart.

Joseph was predeceased by his loving wife, Laura; beloved father of Stephen, Tina, and the late Beverly; grandfather of Solange Sheridan Foster, Angela Williams, Maya Williams, Colin Phillips, Lisette Phillips; great grandfather of Kevin Bishop Foster, Noe Amelie Foster; also survived by daughter-in-law Denise Douglas Williams and favorite niece Meredyth Fuller.

Friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Club 640 Sutter St., San Francisco. Please convey your remembrances on his SFGATE.COM obituary.

Those wishing to honor his memory may donate to Sigma Pi Phi Beta Upsilon Boule, earmarked for the Youth and Leadership Development Foundation of San Francisco, Inc., P.O. Box 88204, San Francisco 94188 or the charity of your choice.