HomeMy WebLinkAboutEleanor Toliver-Williams Obituary - Anchorage Daily News
Eleanor Toliver-Williams Eleanor Joyce Toliver-Williams went home to be with the Lord in College Station, Texas, on Good Friday, April 22, 2011, surrounded by loved ones. Eleanor was
born Dec. 21, 1936, to Jack and Viola Ford-Toliver, in Texas. A memorial service will be at Shiloh Baptist Church, 855 E. 20th Avenue, May 9, 2011, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. A repast
follows in the Shiloh gym. Eleanor accepted Christ at an early age and she stayed the course and introduced as many to Jesus Christ as her time on this Earth allowed. Upon graduating
from high school, where she earned a full academic scholarship, she attended Prairie View A&M. She began each day reading the Bible and her daily Word; she then read the newspaper from
front to back. Eleanor enjoyed all sports, watching them on television or live as often as she could; she would be the mother in the crowd that everyone could hear. In 1955 she married
Tollie Williams Jr., and of the union she was blessed with 7 beautiful children. When her father passed, she then moved to Alaska in 1963 to be close to her older sister, Vanee Robinson.
Thus the journey begins. In 1965, Eleanor began her career at Federal Aviation Administration, cleaning the building --no job too small. She then moved to the steno pool and on to become
the first African-American woman to certify as an air traffic controller at the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center, in 1971. In 1976 it was verified and found to be true that
she was the first African-American to certify, at which time she was entered into the United States history books. Her legacy did not stop there; this was merely a stepping-stone. She
went on to become the first African-American woman to head up a major en-route facility in 1994, at the Cleveland ARTCC in Oberlin, Ohio, the nation's second-busiest en-route air traffic
control facility. She was inducted into the Black Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001, along with such greats as Alfred C. Anderson and several other Tuskegee Airmen. She was one of the first
presidents of the Alaska Chapter of the Business and Professional Women. She is listed in the 104th Congressional Record, "Who's Who in the World," "Who's Who in America" and "Who's
Who of American Women." Eleanor received many awards: Department of Transportation Secretary's Award for Excellence in EEO, 1985; National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees
C. Alfred Anderson Award, 1991; Texas Youth Advocate of the Year by Commission of Alcohol & Drug Abuse, 2001; North to the Future BPW Club's Woman of the Year, 2006; Proclamation of
the Bronze Eagle, renamed the Eleanor J. Williams Bronze Eagle Award, 2011. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, leader, mentor and a true
child of God. She was committed to teaching, preaching and reaching out to as many as would listen. A true pillar in every community in which she lived, she left her mark where ever
she went. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, she was always in a teaching mode, and as she learned she would share her her knowledge with others. She believed that what God has for
her, He has for her and what He has for others, He has for them, and if you could reach out and touch one person you can make a difference. "You cannot be stopped, if you are willing
to keep trying," she would say. Her quote of late was "I am too old to die young; I have lived a long full life." Let us all learn to get along and work together." She is survived by
her seven children, Rodrick L. (Washington), Viola Kaye Smith, Darryl D., Eric R. and Kenneth R. (Alaska), Dana D. and Sheila Anne (Texas); 23 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren;
sisters, Vanee
Robinson, Iris J. Scott, Marjorie Thompson (Lee) and Mary N. Maddox; uncle, Alandrus Peterson; aunt, Christine Ford-Jenkins; a host of nieces and nephews, many cousins and many, many
friends and close associates. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert Toliver; ex-husband Tollie Williams Jr.; two grandsons, Marcus Larry Watkins and Robert London
Smith III; and many nephews and nieces, Larry Toliver, Darnell Toliver and Vanee M. Marshall, to name a few. Eleanor's grandson, Marcus Larry Watkins, was laid to rest with her April
30, 2011. Published in adn.com from May 6 to May 10, 2011 Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=eleanor-toliver-williams&pid=150821996#ixzz1LrTok73t May 08,
2011 Dear Mom, You gave me the greatest gift "life" and in return I was happy to hold you in my arms when Heaven opened up to receive you. I was happy to care for you until your journey
here was done. I buried Marcus' cremations with you the rest we talked about didn't happen. Thank you for leaving your best friend Laverne Collins Reid to help me through so much. ~
Sheila Williams, Anchorage, Alaska May 08, 2011 We were privileged and blessed to know Miss Eleanor. Her enthusiasm for music and the Lord was contagious. We were blessed by her singing
and doubly blessed to have had the chance to sing with her. To her family, may God give you strength and assurance of His love for you and Eleanor during this time. I know she is joyfully
singing with the angels. You are in our thoughts and prayers, Jody and Russ Grimm May 08, 2011 May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you
celebrate a life well lived. ~ Richard &Tammy Hall, Anchorage, Alaska
May 07, 2011 Eleanor was a wonderful mother to her children and a parental icon to her whole family. I will miss our talks and laughs; and mainly her lovely smile. I cherish the advice
and wisdom she shared with me. God waited until April 22 to call home his precious Angel. Rest in Peace. Roderick, Kaye and Sheila, my prayers are with you. ~ Wanda Dale, Anchorage,
Alaska | Contact Me May 07, 2011 Eleanor, We thank God for your life and legacy. Your strength, dedication, and courage were foundational for so many. Kaye, may the comfort of His love
ease your sorrow. ~ Dr. Janet Haynes, Topeka, Kansas May 07, 2011 Eleanor, you will always hold a special place in my heart. No matter what, you showed me the kindness and respect I
did not always deserve. I am grateful for having known you. God bless you. ~ Robert Smith, Anchorage, Alaska May 06, 2011 Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Williams family during
this difficult time. God be with you. ~ Linda Adams, Issaquah, Washington May 06, 2011 Our thoughts and prayers are with the family through this most difficult time. May God lift you
up in your time of sorrow. Ms. Eleanor was a great example of a beautiful, caring and loving person. She will be a legacy for her grandchildren and greatgrand children. She will truly
be missed! Rest in peace my Angel! ~ Larry,Christine Williams, San Antonio, Texas May 06, 2011
She was such a wonderful person, I cherish every memory I have with her and miss her already!!! I will always have a piece of her with me. ~ Regena Williams, Kirkland, Washington May
06, 2011 Eleanor was an amazing woman who always was there for her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She loved each and every one of them with her entire being. May God be with
you and your family at this time of loss and reflection. ~ Kirsten McCart, Anchorage, Alaska May 06, 2011 Dear Toliver-Williams Family: We were so saddened to learn of the passing of
a great role model in Eleanor. Not only did she have a large and loving family but her career was one to be greatly admired. She saw tremendous change in the treatment of African-Americans.
It is important the we continue to be very vigilant in making certain that African-Americans are treated with the respect they deserve. We were so impressed to know that she was the
first African-American Air Traffic Controller in Anchorage after she had begun her career cleaning cleaning the building. Her efforts at lifting up all professional women continue with
the chapters of Alaska Business and Professional Women that are still very active currently. We are praying for your family during the very difficult loss. Sincere condolences. Tom and
Theresa Obermeyer, Thomas, Jr., Jimmy, Margaret, and Matt ~ Thomas Obermeyer, Anchorage, Alaska May 06, 2011 Eleanor was a great woman. I only knew her for a brief time as a co-worker,
but she was very caring and loving. I am glad I got the opportunity to work with her. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. ~ Andy Stephens, Anchorage, Alaska | Contact
Me
May 06, 2011 Kaye, Our thoughts & prayers are with you during this difficult time. I wish I would have had the opportunity to have met your mother, reading about her put a smile on my
face today...a much needed smile! Although I never met her it seems that I know a little about her in knowing you. You are one of those individuals that I'm happy to have met and be
apart of not only my life but my children's. Hang in there and know that we are thinking of & love you dearly. Love, Hugs & Kisses, Yvette, Jamal, Darnell & Valencia ~ Yvette Miller,
Anchorage, Alaska May 06, 2011 Thank you cousin Eleanor for all that you have done for the family, and for all that you have taught all of us as we were growing up, the love you gave
to everyone and the strong family structure that was given to us, you are an inspiration to me and all women and especially women of color, to strive and be the best at whatever we set
out to accomplish. Thank you for what you have personally done for me and for that you have shared to me. me. Thank you for being the crust of the family and keeping us strong and faithful
with GOD. I know you are home now and standing along side the lord looking down on us. I know you are home taking care of our love ones in Heaven, Rest in Paradise to you, Marcus, Robert,
Vanee, Dale and Miss Jones and all of our family. I love you ~ Britney Thompson, Anchorage, Alaska Read more: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/adn/guestbook.aspx?n=eleanor-toliver-williams&pid=1508219
96&page=3#ixzz1LrUHm1Ci Read more: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/adn/guestbook.aspx?n=eleanor-toliver-williams&pid=150821996&page=2#ixzz1LrU9msJz Read more: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/adn/gues
tbook.aspx?n=eleanor-toliver-williams&pid=150821996&cid=full#ixzz1LrU3sFgB