The Catherine “Cat” Jones Williams family hour has been set for Friday at 10 a.m. and the funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Service will be held at the New Rocky Valley B.C. in Grambling.Williams was born July 2, 1923 in Minden. She graduated from Minden High School. She attended Talladega College in Talladega Ala., where she received a Bachelors of Science Degree. She attended New York University where she completed her Master’s Degree.
By many relatives and friends she was affectionately known as “Cat.” Cat was united in holy matrimony to John “Porky” Williams of Baton Rouge, on November 20, 1960. They were not just a wife and husband, but the best of friends.
Education and sharing her wealth of knowledge with others was very important to Catherine. She taught at Grambling State University for 34 years in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department. She chaired the department for a number of years. In 1968 she organized the Delta Psi Kappa Honorary Fraternity for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Aside from teaching, she is fondly remembered for her love of dancing. Her aesthetic love of dancing resulted in her organizing the famous renowned Grambling State University “Orchesis Dance Troupe,” in 1948. The Orchesis Dance Troupe has been an outstanding ambassador for Grambling State University and Louisiana, while representing the state at performances in Tokyo Japan and throughout America, from New York to California.
Dancing under the tutelage of Cat and her successors has afforded many young ladies the opportunity to rise to a level of peak dance performance. Virgie Broussard-Pradia succeeded Cat as the director of the troupe and is an entrepreneur of her own dance studio.
Former orchesis dancer and current Orchesis dance troupe director, Dianne Maroney has performed with the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe and continues to conduct seminars. Currently several former troupe members are performing with NBA, professional football teams, and other prominent dance troupes.
She was a lifetime member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In 1944 she was instrumental in organizing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Rho Sigma Chapter in Minden. In 1948 she initiated the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority chapter at Grambling State University.
Her other community activities included the Couple’s Club, Retired Teachers, Links Incorporated, and the GSU Faculty/Staff bowling league. In 1989, Cat was a member of the Grambling team that won the Louisiana State Women’s Bowling Championship Team.
Preceding her in death were her father and mother, aunts, and sister-in-laws. She leaves to mourn her mother in law, Johnnie B. Williams, sister in law, Georgia Scott, five nephews, and one niece. The one who will be most profoundly deprived of the warmth of her personality and the strength of her character is her beloved husband John.
If you wanted to find a woman for all seasons, you found it in the “Legend” Catherine Williams.