Pearl Alma Williams

BIOGRAPHY

Pearl Alma Williams was born in Drake’s Branch, Charlotte County, Virginia, USA, on 15 November 1881 (claimed 29 November 1880).

In December 1900, Williams entered the service of Willard Wilson, the grandfather of Mrs. George Duffy. She remained with the Wilson–Duffy family for more than 90 years, following them from Virginia to Franklin, Tennessee, and later to Port Huron, Michigan, where she settled in 1958. 

She married Calvin Williams in 1916 in Alabama and had son Carl Williams, who later became a pharmacist in Detroit.   

She retired in 1958 at age 76, but insisted that she “keep busy” – she spent time outside and tended flowers.  

Williams never voted until she turned 100, explaining that voter suppression and poll taxes had discouraged her in her youth. Despite this, she kept close observation of political activities and recounted seeing many former U.S. presidents like William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Wililam Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Warren Harding. On her 100th birthday, she registered and cast her first ballot. 

She passed away in Port Huron, Michigan, on 29 August 1992, at the age of 110.

RECOGNITION

She became the oldest known living person in Michigan following the death of 110-year-old Florence Potts (1881-1992) on 2 March 1992 and was succeeded by Bertha Davis (1881-1992).

Her age was verified by Eli Logan, and validated by LongeviQuest on 12 September 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Quite a life story: Area woman, 108, saw America grow” – The Times Herald, 30 November 1988

* “Still sassy after all these years” – The Times Herald, 30 November 1991

* “Pearl Williams touched many lives in 111 years” – The Times Herald, 1 September 1992

GALLERY

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