In breaking news, Vanessa Williams’ mother, Helen Louise Williams, has passed away at the age of 85. According to Helen’s obituary, she passed away peacefully in London on the morning of December 28, 2024. Her obituary was made by her family and was obtained by PEOPLE on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
According to PEOPLE, Helen had traveled out of London for the premiere of West End’s “The Devil Wears Prada,” where Vanessa plays fashion editor Miranda Priestly. According to the obituary, the trip was planned for her 85th birthday party with 150 family and friends.
However, the plan went awry when Helen’s health deteriorated significantly during her visit, leading to her unfortunate death. According to her obituary, Helen had suffered complications from severe liver failure, which eventually resulted in her death.
In a final message to her student as music instructor, her obituary said, “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.”
Who Is Vanessa Williams’ Mother?
Vanessa Williams’ mother, Helen Louise Williams, was born in Buffalo, New York, on December 8, 1939. At the age of sixteen, Helen became the youngest black student at the State University of New York at Fredonia. In addition, she earned the Jessie Hillman Award for Excellence in Education in 2010 and founded the Helen Tinch Williams Scholarship at SUNY in 2017.
Additionally, she assisted prisoners at the Bedford Women’s Correctional Facility. Over the course of 4 decades, Helen taught at Ossining and Manhattanville School Districts, as well as Manhattanville College. However, her teaching career ended in 1996 when she retired.
During the course of her teaching career, Vanessa William’s mother taught individual piano lessons to students in Westchester County. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a concert supervisor and choir director, which she continued after her retirement. She was also a talented pianist who played at church and community events as well as music recitals.
However, Helen’s contributions extended beyond the realm of music as she ventured into writing. In 2012, collaborating with the “POTUS” actress and Irene Surtell, Helen co-wrote the New York Times best-selling memoir “You Have No Idea: A Famous Daughter, Her No-nonsense Mother, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Each Other).”
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According to her 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.”
Is Jim Skrip Still Married to Vanessa Williams?
In 2021, Vanessa Williams revealed that she had secretly divorced billionaire Jim Skrip after six years of marriage. On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Vanessa opened up about her divorce while confirming that she was single. Speaking with PEOPLE, Vanessa said, “I am in love with life, and I am doing what I love. I am in love with everyone, but I am not in love with just one person.”
The “Desperate Housewives” star and her husband enjoyed their “first three-hour date” in 2012 while on a Nile River cruise in Egypt. When the pair married in Buffalo in 2015, Vanessa wore a “very silky and streamlined” skirt and top combo as a nod to the city where they first met. Vanessa said, “I felt like an Egyptian goddess and that was exactly the theme I was going for.”
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What Role Did Helen Williams Play in Vanessa’s Life?
In 2012, Vanessa Williams opened up in an interview with Forbes, speaking on how her mother, Helen Louise Williams, had impacted her life. The mother-daughter duo discussed how they collaborated to write the book and the impact of fame on their lives.
Speaking with Forbes, Vanessa Williams said, “I came up with the idea after being pursued for a while. I wanted to wait because I wanted to have a career to talk about.” Vanessa continued, “I thought it was the perfect time to be able to tell my story in my own words and also include my mother and her recollections.”
She added, “Through all the obstacles, triumphs, and disappointments in my career, my mother has been there through all of it and has a different perspective and had different experiences.”
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