Oakland

Mary Theriot Williams, 96

Published

5 years ago

April 16, 2019

Mary T. Williams, an Oakland Educator and social leader died peacefully among family and friends on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. She was 96 years young.

Mary T., as she was affectionately known by many, was an educator’s educator. She loved her students, the public education system and the rigors of Science. She also loved The Lord.

Mary fought tirelessly to bring excellence to Oakland Public Schools. In the 1960s, she knew Black folks needed to be a large part of the education process. Quietly, she and others started S.E.D.G.E. in her living room. S.E.D.G.E stood for Sunday Evening Discussion Group on Education.

From this modest attempt to bring social justice to the school system and beyond; the ranks of Black teachers, administrators and elected officials began to develop and flourish.

Mary T. Williams was vivacious, outspoken, kind, disciplined and loved the blues. In her 70 years as an Oakland resident, she formed partnerships, carried the torch throughout the community and marshalled many to fight for better schools and administrative integrity.

From the board room to the playing field, Mary T. advocated for the youth of Oakland and the needs of her community. Mary received a special congressional recognition from Rep. Barbara Lee, the Oakland Black Educators Award, Epsilon Phi Zeta (of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.) Woman of the Year and many other awards.

She will be missed. The quiet hour will be held at Fouche’s, 3665 Telegraph Ave., Oakland on Thursday, April 18 from 7 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at North Oakland Missionary Baptist Church, 1060 32nd Street, Oakland on Friday April 19 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Rolling Hills Cemetery, 4100 Hilltop Dr. in Richmond.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 15 – 21, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 15 – 21, 2024

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Oakland Post: Week of May 8 – 14, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 8 – 14, 2024

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7 days ago

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Bay Area

Faces Around the Bay: Sidney Carey

Sidney Carey was born in Dallas, Texas. He moved with his family to West Oakland as a baby. His sister is deceased; one brother lives in Oakland. Carey was the Choir Director at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for 18 years.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of Sidney Lane.

By Barbara Fluhrer

Sidney Carey was born in Dallas, Texas. He moved with his family to West Oakland as a baby. His sister is deceased; one brother lives in Oakland.

Carey was the Choir Director at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for 18 years.

He graduated from McClymonds High with a scholarship in cosmetology and was the first African American to complete a nine-month course at the first Black Beauty School in Oakland: Charm Beauty College.

He earned his License, and then attended U.C., earning a secondary teaching credential. With his Instructors License, he went on to teach at Laney College, San Mateo College, Skyline and Universal Beauty College in Pinole, among others.

Carey was the first African American hair stylist at Joseph and I. Magnin department store in Oakland and in San Francisco, where he managed the hair stylist department, Shear Heaven.

In 2009, he quit teaching and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. He was 60 and “too old for a heart transplant”. His doctors at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) went to court and fought successfully for his right to receive a transplant. One day, he received a call from CPMC, “Be here in one hour.” He underwent a transplant with a heart from a 25-year- old man in Vienna, Austria

Two years later, Carey resumed teaching at Laney College, finally retiring in 2012.

Now, he’s slowed down and comfortable in a Senior Residence in Berkeley, but still manages to fit his 6/4” frame in his 2002 Toyota and drive to family gatherings in Oakland and San Leandro and an occasional Four Seasons Arts concert.

He does his own shopping and cooking and uses Para Transit to keep constant doctor appointments while keeping up with anti-rejection meds. He often travels with doctors as a model of a successful heart-transplant plant recipient: 14 years.

Carey says, “I’m blessed” and, to the youth, “Don’t give up on your dreams!”