Booker T. WILLIAMS

Haven of Rest (African American) Cemetery
Pulaski County, Arkansas

Rev. Booker T.-oct 18, 1898-Sept 8, 1991
Sue-May 29, 1910-May 31, 1994
Sue Cowan Williams (1910–1994)

Sue Cowan Williams represented African-American teachers in the Little Rock School District as the plaintiff in the case challenging the rate of salaries allotted to teachers in the district based solely on skin color. The tenth library in the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) is named after her.

Born in Eudora (Chicot County) to J. Alex Cowan and Leila Roberts Cowan on May 29, 1910, Sue Cowan began life in a small town in Arkansas. Her mother died soon after her birth. Raised until age four by her maternal grandmother in Texas, Cowan returned to Arkansas to live with her father. From fifth grade until high school, she attended Spelman, a religious boarding school in Atlanta, Georgia. She undertook undergraduate studies at Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama, and extended her education to receive a degree from the University of Chicago.

Cowan’s teaching career at Dunbar High School in Little Rock (Pulaski County) began in 1935. She resided with her father at 1518 Cross Street. Seven years later, she had apparently married, as the city directory shows her last name changing to Morris (though what happened to her husband is unknown), and became the plaintiff in a class action lawsuit seeking a balance of salaries between black and white teachers in the segregated South. The suit, Morris v. Williams, was filed on February 28, 1942, and followed a March 1941 petition filed with the Little Rock School Board requesting equalization of salaries between black and white teachers. The trial, heard in Judge J. W. Trimble’s court, lasted one week, with the verdict going against her. Morris’s appeal was heard in 1943 in the District Court of the United States, the Western Division of Eastern Arkansas, and was decided in her favor.

At the end of the 1942–43 school year, her contract was not renewed. She was not the only casualty of the backlash following the lawsuit; Dr. John H. Lewis, principal of Dunbar, and John H. Gipson, president of the City Teachers Association of Little Rock, were also dismissed. Morris contracted work with Arkansas AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff), the Arkansas Ordnance Plant in Jacksonville (Pulaski County), and Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock before regaining a position with the Little Rock School District. Dr. LeRoy Christophe, named principal of Dunbar in the fall of 1945, requested the reinstatement of Morris. In 1952, a call from then-superintendent Harry Little, asking if she had “learned her lesson,” preceded her reinstatement in the Little Rock School District. She taught at Dunbar until 1974, when she retired.

Morris was active in the community. She was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and became the church’s first youth director. She was also president of the Phyllis Wheatley Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in downtown Little Rock, as well as president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a founding member of the Little Rock alumnae chapter. She helped to establish the Gamma Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta on the campus of Philander Smith College. In addition, she was a member of the National Dunbar Alumni Association, Links, Inc., the Urban League, and the National Council of Negro Women.

Later in life, Morris married Reverend Booker T. Williams, who preceded her in death.

Sue Cowan Williams died on May 31, 1994, in Little Rock. The tenth library in the Central Arkansas Library System was dedicated on March 22, 1997, in honor of her. It was the most expensive building constructed to date in the library system and appropriately serves the community near the historic Dunbar High School building.

For additional information:
“Black Teacher Cites ‘Expediency’ in ’43 Decision Not to Rehire Her.” Arkansas Gazette. July 22, 1979, p. 16A.

Christophe, LeRoy Matthew. The Arkansas African American Hall of Fame. Little Rock: National Dunbar Alumni Association of Little Rock, 1993.

Green, William. “Dunbar Graduates Honor Teacher in Ceremony at Robinson Auditorium.” Arkansas Gazette. July 22, 1979, p. 16A.

“LR educator fought battle for equal pay.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. June 3, 1994, p. 6B.

Obituary of Sue Cowan Williams. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. June 2, 1994, p. 8B.

Rhonda Stewart
Central Arkansas Library System

Last Updated 11/24/2008

About this Entry: Contact the Encyclopedia / Submit a Comment / Submit a Narrative

Selected Comments Selected Narratives

Sue Cowan Williams

• Civil Rights and Social Change

• Civil Rights Movement (Twentieth Century)

• Education, Elementary and Secondary

• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)

• World War II through the Faubus Era, 1941 through 1967

.©2010 The Central Arkansas Library System - All rights reserved - Web Services by Aristotle Web Design.About the Encyclopedia
Get Involved
Resources
Helpful Tips

Contributed on 6/25/10 by excellmoney
Email This Contributor

Suggest a Correction

Record #: 336684

To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.

Additional WILLIAMS Surnames in HAVEN OF REST (AFRICAN AMERICAN) Cemetery

WILLIAMS, M. Q.WILLIAMS, Perine WILLIAMS, Curtis A.WILLIAMS, Alonzo D.WILLIAMS, Bernice "Dootsie"WILLIAMS, Hattie WILLIAMS, Effie M.WILLIAMS, Linda W.WILLIAMS, Colentine G.WILLIAMS, Willie L.WILLIAMS, Catherine Z.WILLIAMS, Lula Mae WILLIAMS, M. O.WILLIAMS, Willie M.WILLIAMS, Victoria WILLIAMS, Henry WILLIAMS, Shari Sherice WILLIAMS, Thomas WILLIAMS, Birder WILLIAMS, Gabe WILLIAMS, Christine WILLIAMS, Devenia L.WILLIAMS, Ethel WILLIAMS, AMY G.WILLIAMS, Thomas B.WILLIAMS, Grace D.WILLIAMS, Mary WILLIAMS, Hazel L.WILLIAMS, Everleana WILLIAMS, Calvin L.WILLIAMS, Harold A.WILLIAMS, Charlie WILLIAMS, Rowena WILLIAMS, Mandie Marie WILLIAMS, Odie WILLIAMS, Fred WILLIAMS, Beatrice K.WILLIAMS, Billie C.WILLIAMS, Sadie WILLIAMS, Doris O.WILLIAMS, Bertha WILLIAMS, Louis E.WILLIAMS, Charles E.WILLIAMS, Robert M.WILLIAMS, James C.WILLIAMS, Veattrice WILLIAMS, Dock WILLIAMS, Mary WILLIAMS, Fred WILLIAMS, Beulah R.WILLIAMS, Augusta WILLIAMS, Lillie Mae WILLIAMS, Beatrice (Sister) L WILLIAMS, Lem Lee WILLIAMS, Theessa WILLIAMS, Lula WILLIAMS, Lucinda WILLIAMS, Katie Mae WILLIAMS, Jerdie WILLIAMS, Sarah Daisy WILLIAMS, Marine Webb, Rev WILLIAMS, Eldora E.WILLIAMS, James S.WILLIAMS, Unknown WILLIAMS, Malvin WILLIAMS, Arnold R. (Senor)WILLIAMS, Mary J.D.WILLIAMS, Roy WILLIAMS, Marilyn Gail WILLIAMS, Elnora WILLIAMS, Severa P.WILLIAMS, Jason WILLIAMS, Elvira WILLIAMS, James WILLIAMS, Flora Mae WILLIAMS, Austine W.WILLIAMS, Archie A.WILLIAMS, Ruth B.WILLIAMS, Julia D Dottie WILLIAMS, Dewayne Montell WILLIAMS, Ruth B.WILLIAMS, Mary Louise WILLIAMS, Natalie C.WILLIAMS, Mary Louise WILLIAMS, Natalie C.WILLIAMS, Booker T.WILLIAMS (FAMOUS), Sue COWAN WILLIAMS (FAMOUS), Sue WILLIAMS, Ben WILLIAMS, Ben P.WILLIAMS, Lelia N.WILLIAMS, John S.WILLIAMS, Frank WILLIAMS, Henry WILLIAMS, Bryant WILLIAMS, Bryant L.WILLIAMS, Amanda WILLIAMS, Jannie WILLIAMS, Lillie B.

Additional WILLIAMS Surnames in PULASKI County

WILLIAMS, Cynthia WILLIAMS, J. W.WILLIAMS, Corine WILLIAMS, William H.WILLIAMS, Walter WILLIAMS, Flora C WILLIAMS, Mollie WILLIAMS, A. A.WILLIAMS, Nelson WILLIAMS, Ona WILLIAMS, N W WILLIAMS, Ruby WILLIAMS, Lavern WILLIAMS, Thelma WILLIAMS, Anthony WILLIAMS, Emma WILLIAMS, Mary WILLIAMS, Annie WILLIAMS, Catherine WILLIAMS, Arthur WILLIAMS, Sydney WILLIAMS, Kenneth WILLIAMS, Rosie WILLIAMS, Z T WILLIAMS, Cora WILLIAMS, La Toyia N WILLIAMS, Bernice WILLIAMS, Bertie WILLIAMS, Elmyra Lenora WILLIAMS, John L.WILLIAMS, Hudson WILLIAMS, Columbus WILLIAMS, Rosemary WILLIAMS, Cloteel WILLIAMS, Robert Lee WILLIAMS, Ernest Lee WILLIAMS, Harrison WILLIAMS, Della WILLIAMS, Charlie WILLIAMS, Cora WILLIAMS, Carrie WILLIAMS, Damon P WILLIAMS, Rosetta O WILLIAMS, Onessa WILLIAMS, Bertha WILLIAMS, Hattie WILLIAMS, Lou Annie WILLIAMS, Beatrice B WILLIAMS, Jossie Mae WILLIAMS, Rosie B WILLIAMS, Charlene G WILLIAMS, Clarkie S WILLIAMS, Nellie WILLIAMS, Lovie L WILLIAMS, Josephine A WILLIAMS, Elsie WILLIAMS, Doctor A A WILLIAMS, Marjorie WILLIAMS, Estella C WILLIAMS, Tennie WILLIAMS, Clodell WILLIAMS, Clara D WILLIAMS, Eldora WILLIAMS, Ella Ruby WILLIAMS, Joe Duffie WILLIAMS, Doris Geneva WILLIAMS, Joe Carleton WILLIAMS, Cedric Hazen WILLIAMS, Jo Desha WILLIAMS, Maxie Leah WILLIAMS, Eldora WILLIAMS, Ruby WILLIAMS, Margaret WILLIAMS, Ruby WILLIAMS, Bett Lou WILLIAMS, Erma Lee WILLIAMS, Blanchie B WILLIAMS, Dave WILLIAMS, Jerry WILLIAMS, Bertha Lee WILLIAMS, Willie B WILLIAMS, Lucille WILLIAMS, Clyde WILLIAMS, Zenobia WILLIAMS, Anna B WILLIAMS, Alma WILLIAMS, Murray M WILLIAMS, Wanna B WILLIAMS, Ada Mae WILLIAMS, Frank R WILLIAMS, Laura Ella WILLIAMS, Remona Julia WILLIAMS, Jane WILLIAMS, Traci Lynea WILLIAMS, Richard O WILLIAMS, J. Leroy WILLIAMS, Ruby Jo WILLIAMS, Walter Lee WILLIAMS, Edna E.WILLIAMS, Ivery WILLIAMS, Arelia WILLIAMS, Adolpha WILLIAMS, Rebecca Louise WILLIAMS, Maggie Faye WILLIAMS, Moris WILLIAMS, Archie WILLIAMS, Mary L WILLIAMS, Reacy B WILLIAMS, Ada WILLIAMS, Earma M WILLIAMS, Bobbie Jean WILLIAMS, Arthur WILLIAMS, Julia M WILLIAMS, Billy Joe WILLIAMS, Rector L Buddy WILLIAMS, Rector Linde WILLIAMS, Carl E.WILLIAMS, Geneva C.WILLIAMS, Patsy R WILLIAMS, Jack R WILLIAMS, Vada N WILLIAMS, Jack Louis WILLIAMS, Ed WILLIAMS, Odessa R WILLIAMS, Louishie R WILLIAMS, Arthur WILLIAMS, Annie WILLIAMS, Sarah Ann WILLIAMS, Otis Lee WILLIAMS, Shelia WILLIAMS, Bernice WILLIAMS, Irene T WILLIAMS, Elbert WILLIAMS, James Paul WILLIAMS, Daisy WILLIAMS, Doyle WILLIAMS, Forrest H WILLIAMS, Emma Ruth WILLIAMS, Nadine WILLIAMS, Nadine WILLIAMS, Tressie WILLIAMS, Lewis D WILLIAMS, Joe A WILLIAMS, Lettie WILLIAMS, Elton C WILLIAMS, Paul WILLIAMS, Holly WILLIAMS, Curtis WILLIAMS, Willie F WILLIAMS, Frances M WILLIAMS, Geraldine W WILLIAMS, Francis G WILLIAMS, Chad Edward WILLIAMS, Frances M WILLIAMS, Patricia Ann WILLIAMS, Robin Sue WILLIAMS, Robin Sue (Back of Stone)WILLIAMS, Hazel WILLIAMS, Charles Allen WILLIAMS, John B WILLIAMS, Ruth WILLIAMS, June E.WILLIAMS, Ethel M WILLIAMS, Adopa WILLIAMS, Albert WILLIAMS, Grant WILLIAMS, James C WILLIAMS, Virginia N WILLIAMS, Fredrick N WILLIAMS, Thayne L WILLIAMS, Mary A WILLIAMS, Phillip Bryan WILLIAMS, Zoe Anita WILLIAMS, Emma WILLIAMS, Larry WILLIAMS, Elomae WILLIAMS, Everette WILLIAMS, Annette P WILLIAMS, Margaret L WILLIAMS, Mary Margaret WILLIAMS, Patricia Ann WILLIAMS, Martha Jane WILLIAMS, Isla Rhea WILLIAMS, Charles R.WILLIAMS, Magdalena WILLIAMS, Thelma C.WILLIAMS, Florence Mary WILLIAMS, Joe J.WILLIAMS, William WILLIAMS, Mary Maudie WILLIAMS, Maudine WILLIAMS, Carolyn R WILLIAMS, Eddie Dwayne WILLIAMS, Nona Liggins WILLIAMS, Nona WILLIAMS, Lillie Mae WILLIAMS, Betty M WILLIAMS, Richard Otto WILLIAMS, Tiner Mae WILLIAMS, Leland Hutchinson WILLIAMS, Dorine WILLIAMS, Arthur Leland WILLIAMS, Alan WILLIAMS, Sarah Jeanne WILLIAMS, Carol WILLIAMS, Milton L WILLIAMS, April Deon WILLIAMS, Eliza WILLIAMS, Joan WILLIAMS, Jimmy L WILLIAMS, Orval WILLIAMS, E L WILLIAMS, Steven L WILLIAMS, Leo WILLIAMS, Carolyn WILLIAMS, Samantha Nichol WILLIAMS, Elijah WILLIAMS, Rosie M WILLIAMS, Michela Elizabeth WILLIAMS, Debby L WILLIAMS, Jimmy Lee WILLIAMS, Samanmtha A WILLIAMS, Karl Sam Fletcher WILLIAMS, Lorenzo WILLIAMS, Annie WILLIAMS, Jacob Brandon WILLIAMS, Evelyn Grace WILLIAMS, James "Andrew"WILLIAMS, Paul Matthias WILLIAMS, Shaniya Cianne WILLIAMS, Messiah WILLIAMS, Candace Marie WILLIAMS, Richard WILLIAMS, Geypsie M WILLIAMS, Bertha L WILLIAMS, Christopher H WILLIAMS, Eddie Dewayne WILLIAMS, Tina Renee WILLIAMS, Frank Albert WILLIAMS, Mina Jean WILLIAMS, J C WILLIAMS, Eva O WILLIAMS, Henry A WILLIAMS, Layuna Yvonne

Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.

Submitted: 6/25/10 • Approved: 8/18/22 • Last Updated: 8/21/22 • R336684-G336684-S3

Booker T. WILLIAMS

Haven of Rest (African American) Cemetery Pulaski County, Arkansas

Additional WILLIAMS Surnames in HAVEN OF REST (AFRICAN AMERICAN) Cemetery

Additional WILLIAMS Surnames in PULASKI County

Haven of Rest (African American) Cemetery
Pulaski County, Arkansas