Please click here to view a student eulogy for Williams that was read at Jacksonville National Cemetery in 2025: https://youtu.be/yM7jquYDpYY. 

Biography

Early Life
Isiah “Ike” Jessie Williams was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 27, 1931. His mother entrusted her loving sister, Helen, with his care, allowing Helen and her husband, Jessie, to fulfill their dream of being parents. 

Jessie supported the family working as a mortar mixer in bridge construction. Despite financial hardships, they prioritized Ike’s education, ensuring he attended Fessenden Academy, a private school in Ocala, Florida.

At age 13 years old, Ike Williams faced a profound loss when his adoptive father was tragically killed in an industrial accident. From then on, it was just him and his mother, Helen, who instilled in him a passion for learning and an unwavering curiosity. Their close bond and her unconditional love for him shaped his formative years.

These early experiences of generosity, unconditional love, family, and the importance of education laid the foundation for the extraordinary life of service he would go on to build.

Homefront
Ike Williams was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where shipbuilding was a key industry. Shipbuilding was a powerful industry in Florida, helping to grow the state’s industrial economy during the 1940s and 1950s. Florida was also responsible for providing almost all of the citrus and fruit for military consumption during World War II. In addition to fruit, Jacksonville exported cotton, lumber, and vegetables to support the Korean War effort. 

Jacksonville was a segregated city, with certain neighborhoods redlined. Those neighborhoods were considered “undesirable” by banks and the insurance industry. The result was residential segregation.

Military Experience
On October 15, 1952, Williams joined the U.S. Army as a private and was promoted to private first class and sent to Korea. He served for two years, with over one year and two months spent serving overseas. He worked as a switchboard operator for Battery B, 8th Field Artillery Battalion. The 8th Field Artillery Battalion was attached to the 25th Infantry Division during the Korean War. 

Williams received a Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and a National Defense Medal. On October 13, 1954, after two years of service, Williams received an honorable discharge to complete the remainder of his service with the U.S. Army Reserve.

Veteran Experience
After serving in the Army and graduating from law school, Williams dedicated his life to helping others. He received degrees from Edward Walters College and Florida Memorial College, and completed law school at Florida A&M University. 

He spent ten years in New York City practicing law and fighting for civil rights. He even worked as an attorney for the Black Panthers and became close friends with Malcolm X. On the day Malcolm X was assassinated, Williams ran to help and served as a pallbearer at his funeral. While in New York, Williams completed a master's degree at Brooklyn Law School.

In the 1970s, Williams returned to Florida and focused on uplifting the African-American community. He started two newspapers, The Jacksonville Advocate and The Northeast Florida Advocate, to highlight Black achievements and important events. For 30 years, his newspapers shared positive news about the community.

Williams was also passionate about history. He taught African American history at Florida Community College and encouraged people to learn about their heritage and ancestors. He helped start the National Business League, supporting Black-owned businesses, and worked with Black firefighters to create a union.

His dedication to preserving history led him to establish the Joseph E. Lee Library-Museum, named after Jacksonville’s first African American lawyer. He also served on the Jacksonville Historic Landmarks Commission. He earned many awards, including the National Whitney M. Young Lifetime Achievement Award.

Beyond his work, Williams was known for his generosity. He often gave money to people in need and never cared about wealth. His life was driven by the need to do the right thing and help others; until the very end, he remained committed to his community and his life’s mission.

He married Marilyn Wilkerson-Williams and raised five children: Helen, Rodney, Isiah IV, Ira, and Mark.

Commemoration
Ike Williams died on October 25, 2009, at the age of 78. He is buried at Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida.

On December 9, 2009, U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings commemorated Williams’ life on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2010, Williams’ legacy was featured in the Jacksonville Black History Calendar.

Bibliography
Primary Sources

Florida. Duval County. 1940 U.S. Federal Census. Digital images. https://ancestry.com. 

Florida. Duval County. 1950 U.S. Federal Census. Digital images. https://ancestry.com. 

Isiah Williams. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010. https://ancestry.com. 

Isaiah Jesse Williams. DD-214. National Archives and Records Administration - St. Louis.

Isiah Jesse Williams. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014. https://ancestry.com. 

Isiah Jesse Williams. U.S., Florida Marriage Index, 1927-2001. https://ancestry.com. 

Jacksonville, Florida. Map. 1936. Mapping Inequality: Redlining in New Deal America, University of Richmond. https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/map/FL/Jacksonville/area_descriptions/D1#loc=12/30.3253/-81.6775.

Hastings, Alcee L. Speech.  December 9, 2009. U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Record.

The History of Black Economic Empowerment 2010. Jacksonville Public Library, 2010. Digital Public Library of America (JBHC-2010). https://cdm16025.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16025coll11/id/77. 

Kerr, Jessie-Lynne. “1931-2009: Isiah ‘Ike’ Williams III was Jacksonville Activist, newspaper publisher.” The Florida Times-Union [Jacksonville, FL], December 1, 2009. http://jacksonville.com/story/news/2009/12/02/1931-2009-isiah-ike-williams-iii-was-jacksonville-activist-newspaper-pub/15964768007/. 

“2-8 FA History.” U.S. Army. Updated April 26, 2016. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.army.mil/article/166806/2_8_fa_history.

Secondary Sources

“Florida in World War II.” Florida Memory. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.floridamemory.com/learn/exhibits/wwii/homefront/. 

“Isiah Jesse ‘Ike’ Williams III.” Find a Grave. Updated December 15, 2009. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45477603/isiah_jesse-williams. 

“Isiah Jesse Williams III.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ISIAHJESSIEWILLIAMSIII/D9EC0F5. 

“Korean War Veterans.” Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://floridavets.org/our-veterans/korean-veterans/. 

McKenney, Janice E. Field Artillery. U.S. Army Center for Military History, 2010.

Vaughns Cherin, Starla. “Black Publisher Isiah ‘Ike’ Williams: Man who Loved, Lived and Made history.” Florida Courier, December 17, 2009. https://lasentinel.net/black-publisher-isiah-ike-williams-man-who-loved-lived-and-made-history.html.

This profile was researched by Aubrey Carn, Mia Cherba, Connor Elis, Colin Fausey, Peter, George Hoch, Micaela Sarmiento, Grace Stratton, Patrick, and Cole Pingitore, mentored by Hawaiʻi Technology Academy teacher Mrs. Melissa Machaj-Abbs, as part of a Veterans Legacy Grant Program led by National History Day in the 2024/2025 academic year.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.


A African American man in a collared shirt and sport jacket.

The Williams family, living in Duval County, Florida, in 1940. National Archives and Records Administration.

The Williams family in the 1940 U.S. Census.

The Williams family, living in Duval County, Florida, in 1950, after the passing of his father. His mother supported the family taking in lodgers. National Archives and Records Administration.

The Williams family in the 1950 U.S. Census.

Isiah Williams’s DD-214 detailing his military service. Parts have been redacted for privacy reasons. National Archives and Records Administration.

Isiah Williams's DD-214 detailing his military service.

Isiah Williams’s grave at Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida, March 3, 2025.

Isiah Williams's grave at Jacksonville National Cemetery.

U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings offered these remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on December 9, 2009. Congressional Record.

A transcribed speech by a member of the U.S. House of Representatives honoring Williams.

Williams was featured in the 2010 Jacksonville Black History Calendar. Digital Public Library of America.

A calendar talking about Williams's accomplishments.

Did not realize I was following in your military footsteps.  We were both surprised. 

ISIAH JESSIE WILLIAMS III

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