Vanessa Williams' Mother Helen Louise Williams Dies at 85

Mar. 15, 2025

Helen Williams and Vanessa Williams, December 2022.Photo:Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Helen Williams and Vanessa Williams pose backstage as she performs a concert as part of The Diamond Series at 54 Below on December 18, 2022

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Helen Louise Williams,Vanessa Williams' mother, has died. She was 85.

Helen traveled overseas for the opening night ofThe Devil Wears Pradain the West End, where Vanessa, 61, plays fashion editor Miranda Priestly.

Helen Williams.courtesy of Vanessa Williams

Helen Williams

courtesy of Vanessa Williams

Her cause of death was complications of acute liver failure, per the obituary.

“Work the best you can and don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do something — ever! Make up your mind, prepare yourself, study hard, and be very, very confident,” was the message she would tell her students.

Helen was born on Dec. 8, 1939, in Buffalo, N.Y. and spent over 40 years in the Ossining and Manhattanville School Districts. She was also a professor at Manhattanville College. She retired in 1996.

While working, she also taught private piano lessons to Westchester County students. Helen was an accomplished pianist who performed at music recitals and community and church events, in addition to working as concert coordinator and choral director before and after her retirement.

Vanessa Williams and mother Helen Williams pose at the opening night of The Roundabout Theater Company’s production of ““Caroline, Or Change” on Broadway at Studio 54 Theatre on October 27, 2021.Bruce Glikas/Getty

Vanessa Williams and mother Helen Williams pose at the opening night of The Roundabout Theater Company’s production of ““Caroline, Or Change” on Broadway at Studio 54 Theatre on October 27, 2021 in New York City

Bruce Glikas/Getty

Her work reached outside of music as well.

In 2012, Helen cowrote theNew York Timesbest-selling memoir,You Have No Idea: A Famous Daughter, Her No-nonsense Mother, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Each Other), with thePOTUSactress and Irene Surtell.

Per the obituary, “the book illuminates her patented and revered character traits; a commanding presence, pint sized authority, imposing stare, acerbic wit, no-nonsense talk, undying fidelity, and support for her children and grandchildren.”

Helen became the youngest Black student at theState University of New York at Fredoniawhen she was 16. Years later, Vanessa would make her own history, as thefirst Black woman to be crowned Miss Americain 1984.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Helen also established the Helen Tinch Williams Scholarship at SUNY in 2017 and received the Jessie Hillman Award for Excellence in Education in 2010. She also worked with inmates at the Bedford Women’s Correction Facility.

source: people.com