Beryl Broadus Williams was born on February 25, 1929, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the third of six children born to Otis Williams and Vivian Williams (nee Duke). Beryl’s early years were spent in Cleveland and in Painesville, where his grandmother lived. He graduated from John Hay High School in 1947 after which he went on to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge from the army, Beryl attended The Ohio State University on the G.I. Bill where he joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Following his graduation from college, Beryl was blessed to meet Henrietta Ramsey, a Registered Nurse from Kentucky, and make her his wife.

Beryl, who was no stranger to hard work, worked several jobs after college including at the Columbus Urban League and the Western Electric Company. He also conducted door to door sales in order to make ends meet during those early days when gainful employment was difficult for African Americans. In 1968, he began working at the Cleveland District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), shortly after the office became up and running. He began his EEOC career as an investigator and rose to the position of Enforcement Manager. Those who worked with him knew his passionate commitment to civil rights and his demanding work ethic. He retired from the EEOC in 1988.

After retirement, Beryl continued to keep busy. Genealogy became his passion. Beryl researched his family history endlessly and was an active member of several genealogy groups. He and Henrietta even traveled to Utah to research at the Mormon Genealogy vault. His research resulted in identifying ancestors and slaveholders, as well as documents pertaining to the release of his ancestors from slavery. Beryl’s interest in genealogy was such that, upon meeting people, he was known to ask about last names in their families and often offered to research their family history too!

Beryl enjoyed working daily crossword puzzles and reading the local newspapers from front to back. Although he possessed beautiful and elaborate penmanship, he took calligraphy courses and enjoyed employing this art form in his writing and on greeting cards. He enjoyed Cleveland sports and was a season ticket holder with the Cleveland Browns for many years. Beryl also enjoyed exercise and spent many years enjoying aquatic exercise at Judson Park.

Beryl and Henrietta lived in Cleveland Heights for approximately 55 years, and their children graduated from Heights public schools with excellent educations.

Beryl and his wife were active members of Heights Presbyterian Church and were avid gardeners, with large summer garden plots at the Canterbury Elementary School in Cleveland Heights. After Heights Presbyterian closed, Beryl became an active member of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church.

In addition to his other interests, Beryl enjoyed fishing, watching old movies, and listening to jazz. At some point in retirement, Beryl obtained his realtor’s license and liked to joke that he was such an exclusive realtor that no one could hire him! Anyone who knew Beryl understands his witty sense of humor and understands that joke.

Beryl departed this life peacefully and quietly on April 19, 2023. Left to cherish his memory are his caring and loving wife of sixty-five years, Henrietta Ramsey Williams; his devoted children, Donna Alexander (Ronald), Cheryl Williams, Roderick Williams and Linda Williams-Fleming (James); loving grandchildren Lauren and Bradley Alexander and James Edward III, Maximilian and Lucas Fleming. Also surviving him is his sister, Wanda Allison, and a host of caring nieces, nephews and dear cousins.