Kenneth Otha Williams September 29, 1946 – January 24, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Upload Photo| Sign Guestbook| View Guest Book Entries| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Kenneth Otha Williams, 72, of Brooklyn, New York, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, January 24, 2019. He was born September 29, 1946 in Buena Vista, Mississippi, the son of Curtis and Evelyn (Kendricks) Williams. Ken accepted Christ at the age of nine and was a member of New Zion Baptist Church, Beloit, Wisconsin, until he left for college.
Ken was very active in the choir and youth activities and served as President of the Youth Division of the American Baptist Convention for this region. Ken graduated in 1964 from Beloit Memorial High School in Beloit, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. From a young age he loved to sing and act, and grew up singing with his sisters and in church.
At UWW he found many ways to use his talents in the Theatre Department, performing in plays and musicals, and cheerleading. He was a member of the music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, which helped nurture his love of classical music while he was also on the road as a lead singer in a rock band. In 1970, he married Julie Spanton and later that year welcomed the birth of their daughter, Jennifer.
After graduating from UWW in 1971, Ken worked full-time in regional theatre companies. Based in Minneapolis, he was on the artistic staff of the Children’s Theatre Company where he created many memorable roles. He was a regular at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in the musical productions he so loved.
He also performed at Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop, Illusion Theatre, the Cricket Theatre, and Shoestring Playhouse. He was a regular contributor as a solo vocalist at Lake Harriet Concerts in the Park summer series, singing with the Minnesota Orchestra. During these years, he also appeared in a rock opera in Madison, and did shows at the Arizona Theatre Company, and the Derby Dinner Playhouse in Indiana.
In 1980, he fulfilled a life-long dream by moving to New York City, where he continued his involvement in the theatre he loved. Though he didn’t see every play ever produced on Broadway, it is safe to say that he tried, often in the company of his dear friend, Lora Kelberg. For the past decade, Ken looked forward every year to his daughter’s visits and their shared love of the theatre.
Over the years he performed at the Darien Dinner Theatre in Connecticut, in national tours of Jesus Christ Superstar and A Little Night Music, and Off-Broadway in staged readings of new plays. More recently, he enjoyed working as an extra in films and TV shows shot in NYC. He cherished time spent with family, returning to Beloit for the Christmas holidays every year and attending family reunions in Kansas, Mississippi, Chicago, New Jersey, and Beloit whenever he could.
One of his greatest joys was singing with his sisters. Although he and his wife were divorced in 1978, they remained friends and with their daughter, shared memorable occasions together and with the Williams family. In recent years he especially enjoyed being a father-in-law and a grandfather.
The two great loves of his life were his daughter, Jennifer, and his mother, Evelyn. Ken is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Rosalind Battle) Williams; his mother, Evelyn Williams; brother, Adolphus Williams; sisters, Paula (Willie) Leavy, Lossie (Richard) Davis, Patricia Foster, and Francine Hinchen; his ex-wife Julie (Gordon Nakagawa) Williams; grand-daughters Nikkia Battle, Kristen Battle, and Kimberly Battle; great-grandchildren Laquan, Harmony, Sa’Quan, Asher, Destinie, and Faith; God Daughter, Kendalyn Cooks; Aunt, Mary Williams; Uncles, Dock Kendricks, Sr., Harvey Kendricks, and George Kendricks; his close friend Lora Kelberg; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis C. Williams; brother-in-law, Arsheal Hinchen, Jr.; and niece Amy Harper-Collier.
Memorial services are, 12:00 p.m., Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Emmanuel Baptist Church 1151 East Grand Avenue, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511 with Reverend Rodney R. Hayes officiating. Hansen-Gravitt Funeral Home, 424 Prospect Street, Beloit, Wisconsin is honored to be assisting the family. Online condolences can be shared at www.
hansengravitt.com.
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