*Singer and actress Vanessa Williams is mourning the loss of her beloved mother, Helen Williams, who passed away at the age of 85 due to complications from acute liver failure.
Helen Williams died while surrounded by family and friends, mere days after traveling to London to see her daughter perform in the critically acclaimed musical “The Devil Wears Prada.”
In an emotional Instagram post, Vanessa Williams shared the news of her mother’s passing on her Instagram page, describing her as a “powerhouse, dynamo and force of nature.” She fondly remembered Helen, affectionately known as Gaga.
“Our mom, Helen Williams, aka Gaga to many, took her final bow in London 20 days after celebrating her 85th birthday surrounded by family and friends. It’s impossible to describe all she meant to everyone because each person saw a different facet of her. Loyal friend to many, icy stares to a chosen few. We will miss it all.”
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Helen Williams celebrated her 85th birthday just 20 days prior during Vanessa’s performance at London’s Dominion Theatre, marking a special moment for the family.
Vanessa revealed that Helen had a long career as a vocal music teacher for over 40 years, teaching in the Ossining and Manhattanville school districts in the United States. She and her husband, Milton Williams Jr., who also worked as a music teacher, had a loving marriage that lasted 45 years until Milton passed from pancreatitis in 2006.
The funeral services for Helen are expected to be private, with the family planning a memorial service in January. While faced with this profound loss, Vanessa will temporarily step back from the musical, pausing performances from January 8 to January 15, during which Debbie Kurup will take over the role of Miranda Priestly before Williams returns on January 16.
Known for her illustrious career, Vanessa made history as the first Black woman to win the Miss America title in 1983. Although her reign ended controversially due to published nude photographs, the Miss America organization publicly apologized to her in 2016. Beyond her pageant success, she has released nine studio albums, received 11 Grammy nominations, and appeared in popular television series, including “Ugly Betty,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “666 Park Avenue.”
Helen Williams also leaves behind her son Chris Williams, a US actor known for roles in “CSI,” “The Shield,” and “Weeds,” as well as four grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a brother. In partnership with her mother, Vanessa co-authored the book “You Have No Idea: A Famous Daughter, Her Problems, Her No-Nonsense Mother,” which gives readers insight into their family dynamics and the challenges Vanessa faced on her road to fame.
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