Cora Williams

Cora Mae Williams was born on July 29, 1941, in Lockland, Ohio. The daughter of the late Reece and Everlena Williams, she peacefully entered eternal rest on January 28, 2025.

Cora grew up in Lockland, Ohio and was enrolled in the Wayne High School system, which was an all-black school. Cora graduated from Lockland High School in 1959, where she was a member of the high school band, playing the French horn and was first chair as a clarinet player.

Cora started her working career at Hermann’s, the first black-owned drugstore in the area that had a food counter and she worked the soda and ice cream station. She worked for Kenner, a toy company based in Lockland. She moved to the West End and started working at Frisch’s, where she retired after 30+ years of service, was now able to spend more time doing the things she loved. Cora was a very active person, not wanting to sit around, whether it was walking from the Laurel Homes to downtown, or in Bond Hill where she would walk to different stores, even walking from Dale Road to the Walgreens on Seymore Avenue. She was always on the go. She was an avid bowler, bowling right alongside her twin sister, Ora Mae and loved line dancing.

Cora was baptized at St Joesph’s Catholic Church in 1973. She was a member of the 9 AM Mass Choir and volunteered at the school’s bingo hall on Saturday night. Her biggest joy was traveling with her son and daughter- in-law to watch her grandkids sporting events.

Cora was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, James and Earl Williams; and sisters, Smithie Patterson, Jessie Gibbs, Alzadia Shaw, Daisy Dyer, Alberta Latham, Rosalyn Williams and Juanita Malone.

Cora leaves to cherish her memories: twin sister, Ora Mae Williams; son, Shawn and daughter-in-law, Sylvia; grandchildren, Shawn, Christopher, Justin, Nathaniel, Corey, Kyle and Kayla; great-granddaughter, Aaliyah; and a host of nieces and nephews.

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