Willarena Lamar was born in 1932, attended Haines Normal and Industrial Institute beginning at age 4, and graduated as valedictorian in 1948. She earned an A. B. from Talladega College in 1952 and a M.S. in Biology from Case Western Reserve University in 1954. She married Tracy Evans Williams in 1956 and the couple had seven children; all four daughters attended Smith College (Serena Williams, 1981; Nita W. Walker, 1984; Mayme W. Nwaneri 1985; and Dollie W. Banks, 1987). Williams was a life-long resident of Augusta, Georgia and taught science at several area schools. From 1988 to 1992 she was principal of the Augustus R. Johnson Health Sciences and Engineering High School. She served on the board of the Augusta-Richmond County Museum and was a member of the Red Cross Auxiliary.