He sustained injuries during a 1932 hunger march on the Ford Motor Co. River Rouge Plant from either the police or security detail. (He died from his injuries three months after the march that took place on Mar. 7, 1932, in a state hospital.)
Because Williams was an African-American, he couldn't be buried in segregated Woodmere Cemetery (as the other protesters who died were); so he was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the area. (There is a memorial marker placed at Woodmere alongside other Ford workers who were killed that day.)
See also Victims of the Ford Hunger March.
Possible death date: Aug. 7, 1932 - Ypsilanti, Michigan. (However this Michigan death certificate says he died of Meningitis and Tuberculosis with no mention of any underlying injuries. No autopsy was done and death was ruled natural.) From this death record birth is given as: Mar. 1895 - Kentucky.
Possible parents based on death record mentioned above:
Father: Frank Williams (1865 - 1917)
Mother: Alice Compton Williams (1870 - 1936)
In 1941, after years of sacrifice and struggle, the Auto Workers union finally won recognition from the Ford dynasty. In 1992 UAW Local 600 retirees bought five headstones—including one for Williams—and placed them by the four graves. On each is carved the words, “He gave his life for the union.”
Because Williams was an African-American, he couldn't be buried in segregated Woodmere Cemetery (as the other protesters who died were); so he was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the area. (There is a memorial marker placed at Woodmere alongside other Ford workers who were killed that day.)
See also Victims of the Ford Hunger March.
Possible death date: Aug. 7, 1932 - Ypsilanti, Michigan. (However this Michigan death certificate says he died of Meningitis and Tuberculosis with no mention of any underlying injuries. No autopsy was done and death was ruled natural.) From this death record birth is given as: Mar. 1895 - Kentucky.
Possible parents based on death record mentioned above:
Father: Frank Williams (1865 - 1917)
Mother: Alice Compton Williams (1870 - 1936)
In 1941, after years of sacrifice and struggle, the Auto Workers union finally won recognition from the Ford dynasty. In 1992 UAW Local 600 retirees bought five headstones—including one for Williams—and placed them by the four graves. On each is carved the words, “He gave his life for the union.”
He sustained injuries during a 1932 hunger march on the Ford Motor Co. River Rouge Plant from either the police or security detail. (He died from his injuries three months after the march that took place on Mar. 7, 1932, in a state hospital.)
Because Williams was an African-American, he couldn't be buried in segregated Woodmere Cemetery (as the other protesters who died were); so he was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the area. (There is a memorial marker placed at Woodmere alongside other Ford workers who were killed that day.)
See also Victims of the Ford Hunger March.
Possible death date: Aug. 7, 1932 - Ypsilanti, Michigan. (However this Michigan death certificate says he died of Meningitis and Tuberculosis with no mention of any underlying injuries. No autopsy was done and death was ruled natural.) From this death record birth is given as: Mar. 1895 - Kentucky.
Possible parents based on death record mentioned above:
Father: Frank Williams (1865 - 1917)
Mother: Alice Compton Williams (1870 - 1936)
In 1941, after years of sacrifice and struggle, the Auto Workers union finally won recognition from the Ford dynasty. In 1992 UAW Local 600 retirees bought five headstones—including one for Williams—and placed them by the four graves. On each is carved the words, “He gave his life for the union.”
Because Williams was an African-American, he couldn't be buried in segregated Woodmere Cemetery (as the other protesters who died were); so he was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the area. (There is a memorial marker placed at Woodmere alongside other Ford workers who were killed that day.)
See also Victims of the Ford Hunger March.
Possible death date: Aug. 7, 1932 - Ypsilanti, Michigan. (However this Michigan death certificate says he died of Meningitis and Tuberculosis with no mention of any underlying injuries. No autopsy was done and death was ruled natural.) From this death record birth is given as: Mar. 1895 - Kentucky.
Possible parents based on death record mentioned above:
Father: Frank Williams (1865 - 1917)
Mother: Alice Compton Williams (1870 - 1936)
In 1941, after years of sacrifice and struggle, the Auto Workers union finally won recognition from the Ford dynasty. In 1992 UAW Local 600 retirees bought five headstones—including one for Williams—and placed them by the four graves. On each is carved the words, “He gave his life for the union.”
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