Nester L. Williams-Dean

Tommy Day and Amanda Day. In the presence of her loving son and daughter

in law, she passed away peacefully on April 30, 2019.

Nester attended numerous country churches as a child but was primary affiliated

with the Independent Missionary Baptist Church in Ennis, TX. She attended school

in the Ellis County Country school system. She also doubled as the school’s cook

as her culinary skills had become legendary. She was a very active member or

the “Order of the Eastern Stars” as well.

At the age of thirteen, Nester’s mother passed away leaving three small children.

Nester was thirteen, her brother, Tommy Jr., was nine and their baby sister,

Gertrude was seven. Her dad was working in the WPA program during the

Depression and was often gone for months on end. She was very proud of her

accomplishments managing the farm and raising her siblings. The town

merchants would extend her credit because they knew she was in such good

standing in the community. Throughout their lives her two siblings had a double

bond with her, as she served as both their sister as well as their mother figure, a

bond that endured throughout their lives.

In 1943, she married Nathaniel Williams Jr. and to this union five children were

born. She married Willie R. Dean later on and to this union no children were born

although she was very caring to her stepson, Cedric Dean.

In the early 1950’s while still in her mid-twenties, she coordinated an Underground

Railroad type network to help blacks leave her small southern town to seek work

opportunities in California. Kind of the early GREEN BOOK. This was a very

dangerous activity at this time because family members of people who left were

often harassed and intimidated. Those who were involved with the actual

coordination of such trips were subjected to far worse. She was fearless in her

resolve. Some of Nester’s relatives made the early trips out west and formed the

foundation of the network, which stretched from New Mexico, Arizona, all the

way up to Northern California and Oregon.

These “ Waystations” provided food,shelter, and baths and travel information

for the travelers. Once the travelers reached their final destination,

they too became members of the network and

provided the same support for the travelers that came behind them. There are

scores of people residing on the West Coast who arrived via this network

For over two decades, she was employed by DISD as a maintenance operator

at the E.B. Comstock Junior High School. She loved the kids and was

affectionately know as “Little Mama” and is currently being inducted into the E.B.

Comstock alumni “HONOREES” Book.

She retired in 1989 and spent time doing

charity work, traveling to visit relatives, fishing and spent lots time visiting her

younger sister and her kids in San Francisco.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Nathaniel Williams Jr., Gertrude

Dudley (sister), Tommy Day Jr. (brother), Winnie Faye Davis (daughter) and

Gretta Neil Williams (daughter).

Nester leaves to treasure her memories one son, Tommy (Peggie) Williams of

Rockwall, TX, Gloria Sneed of Garland, TX and Gayle (Michael) McKinney of

Oklahoma City, OK, nine grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren,

nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.