Akron post office's new name honors late Judge James R. Williams, 'extraordinary' legacy
It took an act of Congress to get the Akron post office at 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway named after the late Judge James R. Williams, but now that it's done it can't be undone, said U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron.
"It is truly an honor," said Sykes, "to stand here as your member of Congress to be able to shepherd this piece of legislation through."
She introduced the legislation last year in the 118th Congress, and it was signed into law by President Joe Biden on January 4.
Williams was the first Black man to serve as a Summit County Common Pleas judge. Before that, he was an Akron Municipal Court judge, an Akron City Council member, a federal prosecutor and a private-practice attorney.
He was also a civil rights leader, working with the NAACP, numerous civic organizations and served as the national president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. During Williams' with the fraternity, he pioneered providing housing for moderate and low-income residents and seniors. He also was the first chairman of Alpha Phi Alpha Homes and was honored as one of the 100 most influential black Americans by Ebony Magazine.
According to a release from Sykes' office Williams was "was among the first African Americans to graduate from the University of Akron School of Law after it became affiliated with the University in 1959."
Judge Williams passed away in 2020 and is survived by his wife, Jewell Cardwell-Williams; two children, Michael and Jacqueline Walton; and four grandchildren.
In 2022, Akron City Council, after some debate, voted to rename the Lawton Street Community Center after Judge Williams.
At the June 17 office naming ceremony at the Alpha Phi Alpha Community Center, just a short distance from the postal facility, judges, Alpha Phi Alpha officials, post office personnel past and present and community members gathered and reminisced.
Gary Wyatt, a retired 34-year employee of the post office in question, said it was "an honor to see some of our legendary folks be able to be honored like this."
"It's an honor to be here to celebrate the legacy of Judge Williams, and all his achievements and accomplishments throughout his life," said Wyatt.
Current Alpha Phi Alpha General President Lucien Metellus called Williams "a man to be exampled," citing Williams' kindness and ahead-of-the-curve progressive views.
"He led his life in ways every Alpha man should aspire to do," said Metellus.
Metellus, speaking to other members of the fraternity present in the audience, said there is work to do.
"Yes, our school systems are under attack," he said, "yes, our children are under attack; yes, even the women are under attack. I have only one question to ask you: what would Judge James R. Williams do? And when you find the answer, do it better than he would've, because that's what he would have expected."
Chris Parnell, chairman of the Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation, called Williams, "an ordinary man doing extraordinary things" who represented and pushed for progress.
Williams' family was present, as well. His son, former Ward 4 Councilman Michael Williams, spoke about his father, whose mantra, he said, was "you are to be of service to others," something he heard from a young age.
"Our legacy — his legacy — is his family," Michael said, "and we continue to be of service to the community, and we love this community and we appreciate the love, support that you have shown our family, in particular my father."
By: Derek Kreider
Source: Akron Beacon Journal