Obituary of Valerie F. Williams

Valerie Frances Williams Obituary Valerie came into the world on January 11, 1929, in Princeton, New Jersey, the only child of Manzo and Frances Follins. Her family moved to New York City where she attended P.S. 46, Herman Ritter Junior High School and Morris High School. She studied piano with Carman Shepard, but her desire was to learn the harp. Valerie also studied dance with Martha Graham at Bennington College. Valerie married John Duncan and their union produced one son, John Manzo Duncan. The stage called to Valerie and she joined the world famous Larry Steele’s “Smart Affairs” revue and was the “baby” of the line for many years. Valerie danced throughout the country on many stages including the Apollo Theater, Club Harlem, and the Dunes Hotel, and performed with many musical legends including Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, and Cab Calloway. Valerie may well be the only person to have danced at both the Moulin Rouge in Paris and the Moulin Rouge in Las Vegas. Valerie also flirted with Hollywood, appearing briefly in “Raintree County” with Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Valerie retired from dancing in the late 1950s and went to Los Angeles, California where she was a talent agent for many musical acts, including The Four Tops. In Los Angeles, she met a popular vocalist with The Johnny Otis Band, named “Handsome” Mel Williams. They were married and their union produced one child, Melvin Williams, Jr. Juggling her roles as wife and mother, Valerie was a keen businesswoman who established the Tasty Hasty Catering Service. In the mid-1970s, she befriended karate legend Chuck Norris, her son’s karate instructor at the time, and the two came up with the idea of forming a professional sports league for karate fighters. That spark led to the creation of the National Karate League, and Valerie built teams of fighters in cities across the country including New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Fort Worth. Valerie was unique in the National Karate League as she was the only woman in its leadership. By the end of the 1970s, Valerie turned her attention to the world of fashion and became one of the top sales directors for Serena Fashions, a lingerie and loungewear company. Her sales unit, “The Valentines”, consisted of nearly 100 women. For Valerie, Serena was more than just a fashion company. It was a company founded by women, run by women, for women, and everyday for the next 15 years, she motivated hundreds of women and empowered them to feel good about themselves and fostered their success and financial independence. Valerie returned to New Jersey in 1992. Although retired, she was heavily involved in civic affairs such as the South Orange Democrats, active in voter registration issues, and dedicated much of her time to being a peace advocate. Valerie believed in the power of love, friendship, and people. Wherever she was she reached out to help others: during her dancing days, she was also a social worker; before forming the National Karate League, she was a school teacher in Los Angeles; and when she moved to South Orange, she taught etiquette classes to young girls from Seton Hall University. She touched all who knew her, and everyone came away from her presence with a gift of love and an uplifted spirit. On the morning of November 6, 2006, God gently called to Valerie, and she answered. Those left to celebrate her life and precious memories are devoted sons, John Duncan, and Melvin Williams, Jr. and his wife, Laura; six grandchildren – Julie, Nikki, Michael, Christina, Gina and Terrell; two great grandchildren – Ishmael and Jayla; several adopted sons, daughters, and grandchildren; and a host of loving family and friends, all of whom will miss her deeply and remember her fondly. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2006 at Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, New Jersey.