The organization was run out of the same brick building that is home to Williams' salon business. In 1983 Williams founded the Central Area Chamber of Commerce to focus on assisting local Black business owners with challenges such as being denied loans that could help them save or grow their businesses. The E Madison storefront persists after her death, with Williams continuing to work on clients' hair until shortly before her passing. She differentiated her business by earning a reputation for vibrant non-natural hair colors done to a high quality. Williams earned several accolades from local governments and civic groups for her work in advancing Black progress in civil rights and community and economic development that were proudly displayed in her salon. The boutique eventually closed so Williams could focus more time on her activism and political interests. Her clothing was often worn by the women of the community to their Sunday church services. The clothing sold in the boutique was colorful and vibrant, often decorated with sequins. In the 1970s, Williams also opened a boutique in Bellevue, Washington's vibrant business district and hers was the only Black-owned business on the strip. Her business was often vandalized in the early years. Then in 1968, Williams purchased a one-story brick building on E Madison St in the Central District for $35,000 and employed up to 13 women. Reportedly, Williams eventually obtained a loan by convincing a banker to use only her first initial to obscure her gender from the loan application. In the 1960s, it was difficult and rare for a single woman to be able to purchase property and especially so for women of color. In her search to buy a building, Williams was denied a business loan by 30 different banks. When it opened she continued to work two additional jobs at the Seattle Tennis Center and Fircrest Hospital while raising her two children in order to save money to buy a permanent building for her salon. The shop contained just three salon chairs. Williams opened her first beauty salon at age 22 shortly after her divorce on the corner of 25th Ave and Union St in the heart of Seattle's historically Black Central District, Seattle|Central District in 1965. Copies of the book are available at the Seattle Public Library Beauty Salon Business Her connection to the mayoral administration of the time helped her secure a grant for the books. Williams wrote two short books on the history of the Central District one was published in 1990 and the second in 1996. Following this, she attended Edwards Beauty School and graduated in 1961. Upon moving to Seattle, Williams attended Seattle Central College (which was called Seattle Edison at the time of her attendance), and earned an AA degree. Williams passed away due to cancer at age 75. She was a mother of two and grandmother to seven by the time of her death in 2018. She was an enthusiastic church participant and was known to miss community events that conflicted with Bible Study. Williams was a member of the South Side Church of Christ in Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Washington. The couple divorced in 1965 when Williams was 22 years old. She graduated from high school and got married at age 15 to Robert "Bobby" Williams, and the couple moved to Seattle. Williams was born in Temple, Texas and her family moved to Portland, Oregon in 1945 where she was raised.
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