Willie B. Laws, Sr.

Willie B. Laws, Sr. was born December 28, 1935 to Mary Ann Laws in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. He shared a rich family life with aunts, uncles, cousins and lifelong friends, in and around Charleston and Enid, Mississippi. His Earthly departure was August 14, 2025.

In the era of the draft, Willie voluntarily joined the U.S. Army hoping to see the world. He didn’t travel the world, but as a staff photographer for the Fort Huachuca Army installation newspaper, occasionally the world came to him. He recalled being assigned to cover the Globetrotters and Duke Ellington.

During a 1958 Christmas season visit to see his mother in Cincinnati, Ohio, Willie met Betty Jane Parker. He returned to the city in 1959, then making it his permanent residence. Willie and Betty married on July 23, 1960, lasting 65 years until Willie’s passing. Four children were born to their union. In his words, their children were his “pride and joy.”

Willie had an entrepreneurial spirit. He and his cousin-as-close-as-a-brother, George, were serial business owners. Soon after establishing his residence in Cincinnati, they saved enough money to purchase used equipment and opened their first business, a bakery, in Avondale. In 1968, they opened Avondale Restaurant at 1520 Linn Street in Cincinnati’s historic West End. It provided the opportunity to meet members of the Cincinnati Bengals, the then-new NFL team in the city, who were in search of soul food. Several players graciously autographed a football for Willie’s young sons. Later Willie and George opened a second location in Walnut Hills, and still later a vending machine placement and servicing business. Willie pursued other entrepreneurial ventures throughout his life. He enjoyed supporting small businesses owned by Black Americans, always rooting for their success.

Willie was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann and stepfather, Nathaniel Wright; and brothers, Odell and George E. (Bobbie).

Left to celebrate his legacy of generosity and gratitude are his wife, Betty; children, Terri, Sherrie (Elijah), Wil (Meta) and Gary; sister, Iola Simms; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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