CHARLOTTESVILLE 鈥 Eugene Williams, who put his two daughters on the front lines of Charlottesville鈥檚 civil rights struggle and later reshaped the city鈥檚 urban landscape with a daring experiment in affordable housing, died Saturday morning at the age of 97.
kAm鈥漺6 H2D 2 EC2:=3=2K6C[鈥 r92C=@EE6DG:==6 |2J@C yF2?5:68@ (256 E@=5 %96 s2:=J !C@8C6DD] 鈥渢F86?6 (:==:2>D 492?865 E96 EC2;64E@CJ @7 E9:D 4:EJ]鈥漦^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52:=JAC@8C6DD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^cge74732\6b34\``66\hfh_\g72ahge27346Qmu@C ?62C=J 2 46?EFCJ[ (:==:2>D D66>65 E@ @A6C2E6 @? E96 AC:?4:A=6 E92E 6BF2=:EJ H2D?鈥橢 D@>6E9:?8 E@ 36 8C2?E65[ 3FE 3F:=E 鈥 =2HDF:E 3J =2HDF:E[ 2?5 =2E6C[ =62D6 3J =62D6] w:D H@C< E@F4965 D49@@=D[ 4@FCEC@@>D[ =F?49 4@F?E6CD 2?5 =:G:?8 C@@>D 24C@DD r92C=@EE6DG:==6[ @7E6? DE2CE:?8 H:E9 9:D @H?[ AC@>:?6?E=J =@42E65 @? #:586 $EC66E]k^2mk^Am
kAmx7 9:D H:76[ E96 =2E6 {@CC2:?6 (:==:2>D[ 2 AF3=:4 D49@@= E62496C[ C6AC6D6?E65 E96 >@C2= 962CE @7 r92C=@EE6DG:==6鈥橠 DECF88=6 7@C :?E68C2E:@?[ tF86?6 (:==:2>D H2D :ED DEC2E68:DE] %@86E96C[ E96 EH@ DF65 E96 r92C=@EE6DG:==6 $49@@= q@2C5 :? `hdd E@ 6?7@C46 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE鈥橠 qC@H? G] q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? CF=:?8]k^Am
Eugene Williams poses for a photo in his Charlottesville house on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.
CAL CARY, THE DAILY PROGRESS
kAm%96 AC:46 H2D DE66A[ 2D DE2E6 @77:4:2=D 925 D9FE 5@H? AF3=:4 D49@@=D :? 2 42>A2:8? @7 鈥渱2DD:G6 #6D:DE2?46[鈥 2?5 >2?J (9:E6 72>:=:6D 7=65 E@ D68C682E:@? 24256>:6D] qFE E96 (:==:2>D6D DE@@5 7:C>] %96:C 52F89E6CD[ $496CJ= 2?5 z2C@=[ H@F=5 364@>6 2>@?8 E96 7:CDE q=24< 49:=5C6? E@ 2EE6?5 y@9?D@? t=6>6?E2CJ 2?5 {2?6 w:89 D49@@=D H96? r92C=@EE6DG:==6 7:?2==J C6=6?E65]k^Am
kAmpE E96 E:>6[ tF86?6 (:==:2>D H2D AC6D:56?E @7 E96 r92C=@EE6DG:==6 }ppr![ 2 A@D:E:@? 96 96=5 H9:=6 H@C<:?8 2D 2 5:DEC:4E >2?286C 7@C E96 q=24<\@H?65 #:49>@?5 q6?67:4:2= x?DFC2?46 r@>A2?J] w6 @7E6? D2:5 E92E 9:D ;@3 D64FC:EJ E96C6 2==@H65 9:> E@ E2<6 E96 ?66565 =682= C:D<D @7 DF:?8 E96 D49@@= 3@2C5 2?5 E2<:?8 2 52F89E6C E@ E96 E96? 2==\(9:E6 (@@=H@CE9鈥橠 =F?49 4@F?E6C]k^Am
kAm鈥漻7 E92E H2D 2== 96 925 5@?6[鈥 D2:5 (256[ 鈥96鈥5 DE:== 36 2E E96 A:??24=6 @7 4:G:= C:89ED =6256CD9:A :? r92C=@EE6DG:==6]鈥漦^Am
kAmqFE (:==:2>D H2D ?@E 7:?:D965]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 4:EJ EFC?65 :ED 3F==5@K6CD @? ':?682C w:== :? E96 `he_D[ C2K:?8 E96 q=24< ?6:893@C9@@5 :? E96 ?2>6 @7 鈥淔C32? C6?6H2=[鈥 (:==:2>D H2C?65 E92E 8@G6C?>6?E\324<65 9@FD:?8 AC@;64ED C:D<65 4C62E:?8 ?6H 896EE@D] x?DE625 @7 >6C6=J AC@E6DE:?8[ 96 7@F?565 2 4@>A2?J]k^Am
Charlottesville civil rights leaders Lorraine and Eugene Williams attend the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP Founders Day Celebration at Zion Union Baptist Church, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018.
ANDREW SHURTLEFF, THE DAILY PROGRESS
kAmx? `hg_[ H:E9 9:D H:76 2?5 C6=2E:G6D[ 96 =2F?4965 s@8H@@5 w@FD:?8 {:>:E65 !2CE?6CD9:A[ AFC492D:?8 2?5 C6?@G2E:?8 >@C6 E92? e_ 2A2CE>6?ED D42EE6C65 E9C@F89 r92C=@EE6DG:==6] (9:=6 96 42==65 :E 鈥5646?EC2=:K65 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[鈥 @E96CD[ DF49 2D r:EJ r@F?4:=@C |:4926= !2J?6[ 42==65 :E G:D:@?2CJ]k^Am
kAm鈥漰E E92E E:>6[ 2 =@E @7 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 H2D :? G6CJ A@@C 4@?5:E:@? 2?5 @A6C2E65 3J D=F>=@C5D[鈥 !2J?6 E@=5 %96 s2:=J !C@8C6DD :? 2? :?E6CG:6H =2DE J62C] 鈥渢F86?6鈥橠 G:D:@? H2D E@ AC@G:56 9:89\BF2=:EJ 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 2?5 8:G6 A6@A=6 2 D6?D6 @7 @H?6CD9:A 2?5 AC:56]鈥漦^Am
kAmtF86?6 (:==:2>D AF3=:D965 2 ?6HD=6EE6C 7@C 9:D E6?2?ED 42==65 x?7@C>65 !6@A=6 pC6 q6EE6C !6@A=6[ H9:49 @776C65 D6=7\96=A[ ?6:893@C9@@5 ?6HD 2?5 C6>:?56CD E92E 4:G:4 6?8286>6?E DE2CED 2E 9@>6] w:D 8@2=[ 2D 96 AFE :E[ H2D D:>A=6i 鈥渵FE @7 5646?E 9@FD:?8 4@>6 5646?E A6@A=6[ 2?5 E92E鈥橠 H92E >2<6D 2 4@>>F?:EJ 36EE6C]鈥漦^Am
kAmtG6? 27E6C D6==:?8 s@8H@@5 w@FD:?8 :? a__f[ tF86?6 (:==:2>D鈥 :?7=F6?46 6?5FC65] x? a_ab[ E96 r92C=@EE6DG:==6 #656G6=@A>6?E 2?5 w@FD:?8 pFE9@C:EJ AFC492D65 E96 D2>6 A@CE7@=:@ 鈥 fc F?:ED 7@C `f` C6D:56?ED 鈥 E@ 鈥4@?E:?F6 E96 H@C< @7 E96 =686?52CJ 4:G:= C:89ED =6256C tF86?6 (:==:2>D[鈥 :ED E96?\tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C y@9? $2=6D D2:5]k^Am
Charlottesville civil rights leader Eugene Williams attends the Drewary Brown Memorial Community Bridge Builders Awards reception Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, on West Main Street in Charlottesville.
ANDREW SHURTLEFF, THE DAILY PROGRESS
kAm(:==:2>D鈥 =:76 3682? >@56DE=J] q@C? }@G] e[ `haf[ E@ $6AE6>:2 2?5 tF86?6 (:==:2>D :? r92C=@EE6DG:==6[ 96 8C6H FA :? E96 D68C682E65 $@FE9[ H96C6 62C=J :?;FDE:46D 3FC?65 :?E@ 9:D 4@?D4:@FD?6DD] (96? 96 H2D `_[ 9:D 72E96C H2D DECF4< 2?5 <:==65 3J 2 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 ':C8:?:2 DEF56?E >@E@C:DE H9@ H6?E F?AF?:D965] {2E6C[ H9:=6 D6CG:?8 :? E96 &]$] p:C u@C46 2E u@CE tFDE:D :? }6HA@CE }6HD[ 96 7@F?5 9:>D6=7 7@C465 E@ E96 324< @7 3FD6D]k^Am
Listen now and subscribe: | | | |
kAm鈥漻E H2D 92C5 E@ 2446AE[鈥 96 E@=5 %96 s2:=J !C@8C6DD EH@ J62CD 28@] 鈥減?5 x 5:5 ?@E 2446AE :E]鈥漦^Am
kAmw6 >2CC:65 s@C:D {@CC2:?6 !2J?6 @7 xGJ :? `hch] $96 H2D E6249:?8 2E H92E H2D E96? E96 2==\q=24< y24<D@? !] qFC=6J w:89 $49@@= H96? E96:C 72>:=J E@@< :ED DE2?5 7@C :?E68C2E:@?] %96:C >2CC:286 =2DE65 fd J62CD F?E:= 96C 562E9 :? a_ac 2E 286 hg] (96? %96 s2:=J !C@8C6DD 4@?E24E65 tF86?6 (:==:2>D E96 AC:@C J62C E@ E6== 9:> E92E 96 925 366? ?2>65 2>@?8 %96 s2:=J !C@8C6DD鈥 s:DE:?8F:D965 s@K6?[ 2? 2??F2= 9@?@C 36DE@H65 FA@? r6?EC2= ':C8:?:2鈥橠 >@G6CD[ D92<6CD 2?5 9:DE@CJ\>2<6CD[ 96 :?D:DE65 E92E E96 9@?@C >FDE :?4=F56 96C]k^Am
kAm鈥漻鈥> C62==J DA6649=6DD[鈥 96 D2:5 2E E96 E:>6] 鈥(6 C62==J 2AAC64:2E6 :E]鈥漦^Am
From left to right, University of Virginia history professor John Edwin Mason, civil rights leader Eugene Williams and Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade speak, Monday, March 3, 2025, in front of a historic marker recognizing the slave trade in the city鈥檚 Court Square.
HAWES SPENCER, THE DAILY PROGRESS
kAmu@C 564256D[ E96 (:==:2>D6D C6>2:?65 =:G:?8 E6DE2>6?ED E@ E96 AC:?4:A=6 E92E 4:E:K6?D9:A C6BF:C6D 24E:@?] %96J H6=4@>65 AF3=:4 D49@@= DEF56?ED :?E@ 56D68C682E65 4=2DDC@@>D[ @776C65 =@H\4@DE C6?E2=D 24C@DD 4@=@C 2?5 :?4@>6 =:?6D[ 2?5 AC6DD65 E96 4:EJ E@ 4@?7C@?E :ED A2DE]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D 7:?2= J62CD[ tF86?6 (:==:2>D 492>A:@?65 2? 677@CE E@ >6>@C:2=:K6 r92C=@EE6DG:==6鈥橠 C@=6 :? E96 2?E636==F> D=2G6 EC256 鈥 E92E 7@C >@C6 E92? 2 46?EFCJ >6?[ H@>6? 2?5 49:=5C6? H6C6 3@F89E 2?5 D@=5 :? E96 D925@H @7 E96 p=36>2C=6 r@F?EJ r@FCE9@FD6] x? |2C49[ 56DA:E6 9:D 25G2?465 286[ 96 H2D AC6D6?E E@ 46=63C2E6 E96 :?DE2==2E:@? @7 2 DE2E6 >2C<6C 4@>>6>@C2E:?8 E92E D@C5:5 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm鈥漻E鈥橠 2 8@@5 766=:?8 H96? J@F鈥機6 A2CE @7 2 492?86[鈥 E@=5 %96 s2:=J !C@8C6DD 2E E96 >2C<6C鈥橠 F?G6:=:?8]k^Am
kAm{6DD E92? 2 >@?E9 367@C6 9:D 562E9[ 2E E96 ~>?: r92C=@EE6DG:==6 w@E6=[ tF86?6 (:==:2>D H2D 2? 9@?@C66 2E 2 r92C=@EE6DG:==6 }ppr! 5:??6C]k^Am
Charlottesville civil rights leader Eugene Williams, center, is honored at an NACCP dinner, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel.
COURTESY OF SCHERYL WILLIAMS GLANTON
kAm鈥漺6 DA@<6 4=62C=J 2?5 =@F5=J[鈥 52F89E6C $496CJ= (:==:2>D v=2?E@? E@=5 %96 s2:=J !C@8C6DD[ 鈥23@FE 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 36 AC6D6?E 2?5 5@:?8 H92E ?66565 E@ 36 5@?6]鈥漦^Am
kAm%96 >2? H:E9 E96 3@HE:6 2?5 E96 3C:6742D6 7F== @7 :562D ?6G6C DE@AA65 36=:6G:?8 :? E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 5646?4J 2?5 4:G:4 :>AC@G6>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E9:D 52F89E6C]k^Am
kAm鈥漻 D2:5[ 鈥榮25[ E9:?8D 2C6 EFC?:?8 325[鈥 2?5 96 D2:5[ 鈥(6==[ E9:?8D >2J 36 325[ 3FE E96J鈥橤6 366? 325 367@C6[鈥欌 D96 C642==65]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 96C 72E96C鈥橠 :?E6==64E C6>2:?65 D@ D92CA E92E 96 H2D DE:== 8C66E:?8 G:D:E@CD @? 9:D 36=@G65 7C@?E A@C49 52JD 367@C6 9:D 562E9] w@H6G6C[ A2:?[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? 9:D =68D[ D2AA65 9:D 6?6C8J] $@ E96 !9:=256=A9:2\32D65 (:==:2>D v=2?E@? 2?5 96C (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r]\32D65 D:DE6C z2C@= (:==:2>D q:8=@H 42>6 324< E@ r92C=@EE6DG:==6]k^Am
kAm鈥漰D D25 2D :E :D[ H6 H6C6 D@ 8C2E67F= E92E 96 H2D 23=6 E@ DE2J 2E 9@>6[ 2?5 H6 H6C6 D@ 8C2E67F= E92E H6 H6C6 23=6 E@ 36 H:E9 9:>[鈥 D96 D2:5] 鈥渨6 AC6EEJ >F49 =67E E96 H2J 96 H2?E65 E@ =62G6]鈥漦^Am
kAm(256 4@F?ED 9:>D6=7 2D 2 >6?E66 8C2E67F= 7@C 86EE:?8 鈥淒49@@=65鈥 2E E96 (:==:2>D鈥 #:586 $EC66E C6D:56?46]k^Am
kAm鈥漺6鈥5 E6== >6 H92E E@ =@@< @FE 7@C[ 9@H E@ =625[ 9@H E@ E9:?< =@?8 E6C>[鈥 D2:5 (256] 鈥渨6 H2D H:D6[ 3FE 2=D@ <:?5] w6 H2?E65 J@F E@ 5@ 36EE6C]鈥漦^Am
kAmp 46=63C2E:@? @7 (:==:2>D鈥 =:76 92D 366? A=2??65 7@C a E@ c A]> }@G] ` 2E E96 q@2C鈥橠 w625 #6D@CE ;FDE H6DE @7 r92C=@EE6DG:==6]k^Am
Charlottesville civil rights leader Eugene Williams lounges on his Ridge Street front porch, Monday, Sept. 18, 2017.
ANDREW SHURTLEFF, THE DAILY PROGRESS
Hawes Spencer (434) 960-9343
hspencer@dailyprogress.com
@HawesSpencer on X
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
