14 April 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She mentions that nighttime frost is killing her fruit and azaleas. She also wonders whether the Patricia Hearst case will ever end. She asks if Diane has recovered from the flu. She also says she has not heard from Gerry or Karen. She signs off by wishing a happy Easter, sending her love and blessings.

GLC09587.342

29 April 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She begins by remarking what a surprise it was to see everyone last Friday evening, and how it lifted her spirits. She discusses food, cleaning the basement, and her plants. She sends love and blessings to all and signs off.

GLC09587.343

12 May 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She thanks them for making her Mother's Day so wonderful and that she loves her new pocketbook. She asks how their Mother's Day was -- it is likely she is speaking to one of her daughters. She also asks if Diane really got married. She remarks on the weather and her plants. She lists several young women who recently graduated from Virginia State and Radford. She mentions that Dolores might be in Boston and asks them to watch Geraldine. She signs off, sending love and blessings.

GLC09587.344

19 May 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She updates them on the weather and her garden. She says that Virginia told her Andrea is getting ready for junior prom. She says their family is involved in a lot "all at once," like Diane's marriage and Dolores' graduation. It is also Women's Day at her church on Sunday. She expresses happiness about the grandchildren growing up but worries they will drift from their parents as they do, like hers did. She says she has to fight against loneliness, but is thankful for God. A postscript indicates her politics, as she says she does not like Ford or Reagan.

GLC09587.345

16 June 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She updates them on the weather. She had a guest arrive on Sunday, as well as Geri and Karen who made dinner. She gave some water guns to children asking for toys and thinks about games that Don bought for the twins which are on the shelf in her guest closet. She describes more food Geri made and a trip they made to Tanglewood to buy toys for the boys, as well as groceries. Then, they visited Hazel and Mary Curtis where they discussed Mary's daughter's upcoming wedding reception. She tells some anecdotes about a little boy named Trace. She then discusses…

GLC09587.346

8 July 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She says Virginia has come to visit her. She says she is sorry the recipient is feeling badly and wants them to follow the doctor's orders to stay in bed. She says Geri also needs rest. She mentions some things she has watched and listened to. She signs off with love and blessings, and reminds them to send her a note about how they are doing.

GLC09587.347

28 July 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. Cordelia writes that she hopes they had a good vacation in Hampton, she does not specify who "they" are. She is also happy that Geraldine's twin girls met a friend they liked. She said that her plants are not doing very well but her watermelon vine is outgrowing everything else. She wonders if Virginia told them about the increase in real estate tax. She received an invitation to Mary Curtice's daughter's wedding and so did Virginia. She sends love and blessings.

GLC09587.348

4 August 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Cordelia Williams writes to her children saying that the weather is very nice and that they all should be there. She mentions that Elvis Presley was at the center last night, and some people parked early so they could get a seat and see him. She hopes Diane, Virginia's daughter, is improving. She is excited about the Twitty's visiting and just saw the Kelly's. Nadine Dave's Dad died Friday and there were a lot of flowers at the funeral. She does not want that when she goes and would rather her family "do what [they] can for me while I know about it." She heard that during the funeral Nadine,…

GLC09587.349

11 August 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Cordelia Williams writes to her children. She writes that she trusts everyone is well. Her dieffenbachia flowers were falling over so she had to stick a pole in it for support. The nights have been comfortable and her watermelons are growing. She is still waiting on rain. She notes that she is "nearing the end of [her] 86th year" She is thankful Diane is doing okay, it seems like she was sick with something serious. She sends love and blessings.

GLC09587.350

27 August 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She had a good 87th birthday filled with love. She hopes that the Twitties and Kents will all be able to get together soon and have a birthday dinner. She is full of "apprciation for every kindness shown until [she] cannot put it into words." She says she is "trying to express what [she] really feels in her heart" about how happy she is about her birthday. She says that even if she does not live to have another birthday, "all that went into this one...will ever live in my heart." She notes that H. Hamilton Williams was not able to see his mom for…

GLC09587.351

8 September 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She writes that there is not any important news to report. Harold Hamilton Williams called on Sunday. He is adding on rooms to the back of his home, including one like the family room she has. He says he is trying to get home next summer. He wanted to send her money for the air conditioner but she saved up enough money herself. She writes about how much she pays for various bills. She asks to be kept posted about a white teacher. She asks for an opinoion on a financial transaction between Harold and herself concerning a check he sent that she got…

GLC09587.352

15 September 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She writes that the rain is nice and welcomed. She talks about how her plants are doing. Wheaton called to say he would be there in the morning. The doctors had to take off Mrs. Jefferson's left leg. It seems like Mrs. Jefferson also has a broken right hip. It seems like Mrs. Jefferson as run over by a young careless driver. While eating on a friend's front porch Nadine needed help in the bathroom and it appears that she had high blood pressure and was brought to the hospital, she is now in itensive care. Mrs. Ethel Pyne called to say her brother…

GLC09587.353

21 September 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She writes that she hopes everyone is well and happy. Autumn is beginning tomorrow. She asks to be sent Juanita's address so she can thank her for remembering her birthday. She is having toilet and shower trouble, and Donald Twitty is helping her fix it. She retells the story of the two young boys who got into a car accident. She reminds them to drive safely. She again mentions that taxes are rising and that her watermelons are doing well. As an afterthought she writes that some of her plants have roots ready to be planted. She sends love and…

GLC09587.354

1 October 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She writes that she is missing everyone. Cordelia really appreciated everyone visiting. She signed a contract for an air conditioner on Monday evening. A plummer fixed something in the furnace that Don suggested needed to be looked at. She mentioned that Nina cheated on someone, not specified who, for many years. It seems that now she is in the hospital for a heart attack, and Cordelia feels sorry for her mother, husband, and children. She sends love and blessings.

GLC09587.355

6 October 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She writes that she hopes all is going well and that she was happy to see rain and now wants to see some sunshine. She spends some time writing about how her plants are doing. She mentions that this time of the year is hard for her because Eugene died September 14th and LeRoi died October 15th and her husband got sick October 15th. She writes "these memorials really hit me, I think because I am alone...knowing that exactly half our family has already gone." Cordelia really enjoyed the picnic and dinner with Virginia. She mentions that although…

GLC09587.356

12 October 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She writes that she trusts everything is going well. She asks how someone's sinus trouble has been and says the weather has been nice. Also, six people died from a swine shot, but three people already had prior heart conditions. She is looking forward to the next presidential debate and the vice nominee debate. She did not like that there was a baseball game on T.V. during "edge of night" time. She sends love and blessings.

GLC09587.357

20 October 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She says she's been wondering about Geri and asks if she's beaten the flu. She updates them on the weather and says the only news lately is sickness. She says that Reverend Martin Luther King was in town for a church financial drive (Based on the date, 1976, it was likely King's son, Martin Luther King III). Mrs. Jefferson is not doing well, and Cordelia is praying for her. She says this is the fault of a young man who should have been paying attention while driving. A tree has started to grow apples and Cordelia would like Virginia to taste them. She also…

GLC09587.358

25 October 1976

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She tells Geri she is sorry she's not feeling well. She says she must speak to "that teacher" and tell him what is expected of him, or tell the head of the department to give him a written copy of his obligations. She asks her if she has enough time to rest and reminds her not to overdo it. She wonders if Carter will make it, since the Republicans are pushing Ford. She says she will still vote for Carter. She asks if Gerry and Harold retired, and says to look into it as an insurance matter. She says if she is still around in the spring time, she would like a…

GLC09587.359

January 27, 1977

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She says she was listening to the news when "you" called and took her mind off of everything. She wonders why Harold and Mattie "did that." She talks about the weather and says that Carter is pardoning the draft evaders, which is being praised and criticized. Cordelia thinks it is the right thing. Next week is Groundhog Day. She hopes that Donald will take care of himself. She signs off with love and blessings.

GLC09587.360

January 27, 1977

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She asks Geri how her mouth is doing. She talks about her garden and says she is doing well. There is lots of sickness and death around. She says Carter will have a hard time with the Civil Rights programs. On the news last night, she watched scenes of people living in huts and cottages in Johannesburg, South Africa. She says white people there can seize Africans' houses and land for any reason. She feels these conditions make domestic civil rights more important. She comments in the increased price in electric heating and milk, as well as her property taxes.…

GLC09587.361

16 March 1977

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams. She asks how everything is in D.C. She mentions a Muslim man whose family was killed, who she feels needs sympathy but also psychiatric treatment. She discusses the weather and garden, as well as some local marriages. She speaks about Hazel and her ill brother, George, for some time. She signs off with love and blessings.

GLC09587.362

18 May 1977

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her children. She asks how everyone is doing. She said she is enjoying a hot day. She has not been feeling too well the past couple of weeks. She has some tomatoes growing but has not done too much with the garden. She said some flowers are dying but there will be more roses. Mr. Thompson is still in the hospital and Joe Holt brought his wife to see Cordelia. He will be back to bring his children and is currently living in Dublin. Her missionary group met at her house last night and "carried their plate and glasses to the kitchen before they left." She signs…

GLC09587.368

13 July 1977

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Geraldine Williams

Letter from Cordelia Williams to her daughter, Geraldine Williams. She writes that she hopes Don is comfortable and to keep her chin up and tell herself that "God is able and all power is in His Hand." The tomatoes in her garden are the only thing that are consistently producing except she has flowers in full bloom. She heard President Carter's press conference. She really likes her new air conditioner, especially when it gets to be one hundred degrees outside. Jessye brought her a big piece of watermelon. She says to tell the girls to take good care of her when Don is sick. She signs off…

GLC09587.369

1970-1979

Document

Title: [Income statement]

Document saying that Cordelia Williams was born on August 26th, 1889. It is most likely an income statement. It says she is a widowed mother, had $75.00 average month living expenses per month and made no monthly income. The document contains the line "Edna Geral. Single Sister." It notes that someone was a high school teacher, possibly H. Hamilton Williams, and says their salary, room and board. It also gives price for repairs, shopping, and housework. It says that Cordelia's son was "the only male risiding in my house I depended on him for any number of things." It mentions that at the time…

GLC09587.370

1970-1979

The Tuskegee Williamses

Typed note

Title: [Christmas note]

Christmas note from the Tuskegee Williamses to Cordelia Williams wishing her "the merriest of Christmases." It says that the gift is to start paying for an automatic washer and that they will send the balance from time to time. They tell her to check the papers for the after Christmas sale and recommends the purchase of the Seans Kenmore, fully automatic. They say they wish they could be there and hope she likes the new home. It is signed "love, the Tuskegee Williamses."

GLC09587.371