*
" T Chronicle Profile
She's climbing th
By AUDREY L. WILLIAMS
Chronicle Staff Writer
To call Elynor Williams a crusader would probably
be an honest characterization of her, for if
there's a cause that's worth her time, you better
believe she'll fight for it.
" I om ~c *1
. uiu v-mic ui mose people wno wouldn't do
anything 1 didn't believe in," she says, "or I'd be
out on the corner selling pencils."
That part of her is deep-seeded, she says, a seed
planted by her father, a man who moved about
from Louisiana to Alabama and finally to Florida
whenever a good opportunity arose.
Williams is director of corporate affairs for
Hanes Group, making her one of a growing
number of top black women executives in the
country. Tomorrow, .*4** hot ftin.l aw
niversary^ wittr the company who recruited her
from Western Electric., where she was senior
public relations specialist.
Much of her free time, which isn't a lot, is
devoted to championing others on, she says, giving
advice and pep talks about the field of public
relations and the opportunities it holds for women
and blacks. She is also a feminist and proud of it,
she says. And contrary to what others might
believe, it's not the reason that she's reached her
mid-30's and hasn't settled down with a husband,
family, home and dog, she says.
"I've been engaged several times," Williams
says. "I'm a feminist but that has nothing to do
wun it. i ao like men, but it's all about being fair.
441 grew up with double messages from my
father," she says. "The strong of it was learning
how to take care of yourself."
^ Both Williams' parents were educators, giving
I Mr ?h 1
Almeader Theresa Ann Smyre /' 'wM
of Charlotte and Lee Samuel
Howard Jr. of Charlotte and ^?-mM
HL^r m"1 M
formerly of Winston-Salem were ^gJL J
united in marriage, Saturday, J
June 30, at 5 p.m. at United
House of Prayer in Salisbury.
The bride is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Smyre of
907 W. Horah St. She is a J
graduate ot Livingstone College
and the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. She
teaches in the
Charlotte/Mecklenburg school P
system.
The groom is the son of Mr. I
and Mrs. Lee Samuel Howard Sr.
of 1270 W. Sedgefield Dr. He is a
graduate of Parkland High ISlfSllfBilB
School and Livingstone College.
He is employed by Phillip Mor- I
ris.
Given in marriage by her chaster, Ga., Mis
father, the bride had Miss of Charlotte, Miss
Patricia Nichols of Durham as Raleigh, Miss T
her maid of honor and Mrs. Winston-Salem,
Sharon C. Moore of Newport Wilkerson of B{
News, Va., as her matron of and Miss Ton
honor. Mocksville.
The groom's
Bridesmaids were Miss Curtis D. Gore J
Henrietta Howard of Charlotte, Va.
Miss Gloria A. Howard of Ushers were
Winston-Salem, both sisters of brothers, Ralph
the groom. Other bridesmaids Toledo, Ohio,
were Mrs. Thornton Howard III Howard of W
of Winston-Salem, Miss Zelma Other usher^ wer
Davis, Miss Millicent Jones and Michael Holt, Ter
Miss Marsha Pruitt of Salisbury, Michael Shields* j
Miss Vickey Sadler of Man- Willie Davis I]
8wjh :
" " ' II im'i himi ii ir rniwi a i mini in i ihihwmi u
Salaam, Morton wed at
Sherry Regina Salaam of of Atlantic-Highl;
Winston-Salem and Steven ficiating.
Gregory Morton of Tustin, The bride is tl
Calif., were married Saturday, Mr. and Mrs. Wal
June 30, at a 4 p.m. ceremony at of 3818 Sawyer
Prince Hall Masonic Temple, graduate ot ttenr
with the Rev. Archie Richmond Greensboro and i
a Locke Alterations
The groom is t
and Mrs. Walter f
ta Ana, Calif. He
North Carolina
University and ij
Carl Karcher Ent<
The bride, giver
her father, had Y
Jacquelyn Salaan
Salem as her mail
Mrs. Glenda Gam
Salem as her mati
Bridesmaids we
Watts of Statesvil
sister, Miss Sarah
Mra. Jacquelyn Morton ta Ana, Calif., \
e corporate ladder
her and her sister the best there was to offer, she
says. It is her father, however, that she speaks of
with the greatest of admiration. He, was the
founder of the now-defunct Platick Junior College
in Florida. Integration destroyed it, says
Williams.
Looking at her now, conservatively dressed in
navy blue silk and seated behind a good-sized dark
wood desk, it's hard to imagine that Williams, the
t J ? /*_ ^ p _ , |
iiuiuv v.v.uiiuiiuv.5 duudic iiuni Dpeiman college,
is the same person who racked up high school sewing
awards in 4-H competitions. She says she
hasn't seen her sewing machine in years.
After she got her degree from the famed
woman's college, Williams began what would be a
series of crusades in her life! On the advice of her
? father; sfwrsayy, instead of looking for a career nr
fashion merchandising, she began teaching home
economics to seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders.
"I took myself very seriously," says Williams.
"1 had this missionary zeal and I was going to save
the world.
"You know," she says, "God looks out for
fools and babies."
Williams draws that conclusion after looking
back on how she went into the inner-city ,
neighborhoods of Florida, seeking out parents of
her students who hadn't attended school.
"Nobody did that anymore," says Williams,
"but I didn't know that. 1 still like teaching.
That's why I go to college campuses now the first
chance 1 get."
A resident of North Carolina for the better part
of her adult life, Williams, who holds a master's
degree in communication arts from Cornell
University, cante to Winston-Salem after leaving
^^Ek II ^1
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K| .:v<&^gfP9
pS 'i. .**
Irs. Almeader Sin y re Howard
s Frances Holt Perkins of Winston-Salem, Dar
Karen Holt of ryl Jenkins of Charleston, S.C.,
anya Doe of Johnny Stoutamire and Eric
Miss Debbie Nelson of Charlotte, Johnny
Utimore, Md., McLean of Knoxville, Tenn., and
ya Jones of Charles McMurray of
Washington, D.C.
best man was
r. of Danville, The miniature bride and groom
were Franco Copeland and Miss
the groom's Rachel Reid, both of Salisbury.
Howard of Flower girls were Misses
and Sylvester Deyonae Grace and Rashanda
inston-Salem. Chalk, both of Salisbury,
e Sam Moore, Ring bearer was Cameron
ry Johnson and Brent Hudson of Salisbury,
til of Salisbury, The couple will make their
fl and Tony home in Charlotte.
IJHMI'JUMUOMJ Mir?i?LWUA! iwju..miJ.wa?ji.il e'jw ' : >
t Masonic Temple
ands, N.J., of- Melton of Salem, Va., Miss Jerrylyn
Hyman of Winston-Salem,
le daughter of Miss Deadra Richmond of
i Abdul Salaam Atlantic-Highlands, N.J., Miss
St. She is a Cynthia Porter of Booneville,
lett College in Miss Trevia Glenn of East Bend
s employed by and Miss LeeAnn Thompson of
Raleigh.
The groom's best man was his
he son of Mr. brother, David Morton of Santa
ylorton of San- Ana.
is a graduate of
A&T State Ushers were the bride's
; employed by brother, Reginald Salaam of
rrprise. Winston-Salem, and Benny PatJin
marriage by ton, Wayne Patton, Monroe
ler sister, Miss Gambil, Lynn Sloan and Darryl
t, of Winston- Williams, all of Winston-Salem.
i of honor and OtheT ushers were John Watts of
bil of Winston- Statesville, Paul Hogan of
'on of honor. Chapel Hill and Kenny Melton of
re Mrs. Daphne Salem, Va.
lie, the groom's
Morton of San- The couple will make their
1rs. Charmaine home in Tustin, Calif.
r
fl
Although she's a highly respected executive
in a fast-paced career, Elynor
Williams, director of corporate affairs at
Hanes f^nattKVWnhJr.,,
her job as a- comimmi at4on- specialist af "
Carolina A&T State University's agricultural
department to work for Western Electric. It was in
Greensborp, in 1980, that Williams ran for the
state House at the suggestion of a local senator.
"I attacked with all the gusto I could muster,"
she says. "I covered that county like you wouldn't
believe.
"... Although I was known because of my
volunteerism," says Williams. "I wasn't known in
the political circle^, but 1 did come to be known
_and respected." _
She's received many honors and awards, including
a recent doctor of humane letters degree
from Clinton Junior College in South Carolina.
Williams has also served on numerous boards and
holds membership irtto influential professional
and civic organizations.
Her career in public relations is high-pressured,
-jjp
Lartisa Oliver and Byt
Lartisa Charlette Oliver and
Byron Antonio Williams were
married Saturday, June 30, at a 3
p.m. ceremony at the home of the
groom's mother at 2220 Elbon
Drive, with Elder A.W. McCloud
*
officiating.
The bride is the daughter of
Mrs. Jacqueline W. Rogers of
4460 Kimball Lane and Charlie SM
Oliver Jr. of Miami, Fla. She is a
1978 graduate of North Forsyth
High School.
The groom, son of Mrs. Sara
G. Robinson of Winston-Salem *
and Richard Williams of New
York, N.Y., is a 1978 graduate of * j
Parkland High School, previous- jy|
ly served in the United States Army
and is now employed by
Douglas Battery.
Given in marriage by her stepfather,
Larry Rogers, the bride jijl
had Brenda K. Richardson of
Winston-Salem as her matron of
, honor.
Best man was the bride's
brother, Anthony L. Oliver of of Winston-Sal<
Winston-Salem. Flower girls
Ushers were Gary Mitchell and Arrington an
Romellia Orlando Williams, both Williams. Rii
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g.'aRjjj'""- wjBawrorugMLL^M-?iij/j?m'W>j?c'^"n'-|%L,ii-,5J Ja'lf,M.<JW W?|<iWMWM?H'-^W1
Bwm BI iijAaumiWgia iaj j^gag*'^^cAu5r^m!Ljj^j|i^s^rs?KTnM>t
Dance the night away
in high-stepping pumps!
These elegant open-toe pumps rise
gracefully on high heels. They're
perfect for any time you want to
look your best, in fine leather accented
with textured leather backs
and matching butterfly bows.
Black, biscuit and geranium red. 7
to 91/2 narrow and 6 to 9. 10
medium. 63.00
SIGNATURE SHOES WINSTON?SALEM
HANES MALL yT
/fa *
The Chronicle, Thursday, July 5, 1984-Pafle A7
"N
m
hare with other up-and-coming executives
what it takes to be successful
(photo by James Parker).
buT sfte continues to main tarn a leatherneck approach
to it and a "go get'em" attitude, she says,
because of her "workaholic and zealous" nature.
The associates and friends she meets are influential.
While looking for a business card of an
old friend, she dumps the rest on her desk. The
* -?
pile includes the cards of editors from Women's
Wear Day to the National Women's Political
Caucus. But they're not just for souveneirs.
"I believe in networking," says Williams. "We
need to begin to help each other a lot more and
that's particularly true about black women, even
if it's 4I just need to talk to someone.'
"It can get kind of lonely when you have
responsibility and authority," she says. "The
magic words are networking and support. Be able
to walk with kings and queens and still keep the
common touch."
J
vn A, Williams wed
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Mrs. Lartisa Oliver Williams
jm. George Wright,
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