Nina Williams

Nina Kersey Williams was born May 20, 1898 to James Henry and Mary Ann (Emmanuel) Kersey in Ypsilanti. The Kersey family came to Ypsilanti from Canada, where they joined relatives who had been here since the Civil War. Nina grew up in the home on First Avenue built by her father. Mr. Kersey and his brother George were carpenters and built many home and buildings in Ypsilanti, including the present Brown Chapel AME church on Adams Street. Nina had one daughter, Rolanda (Boland) Hudson with husband Roland Boland, who perished in the influenza epidemic that swept the country after World War One. Nina later had two children, World War Two veterans Frederick and Edward, with Wilson Williams, whom she would divorce. Nina and her sister Bernice (pictured) were extremely close and played an active roll in the social, religious and educational life of Ypsilanti’s Black community together. Mrs. Nina Kersey Williams passed away on September 15, 1998 at 100 years old.