Van Stone News Feed: Dual celebration for Yeadon judge- Philadelphia Tribune by
Justice W. Keith Williams II, left, Leon Howard and Yeadon
Mayor Rohan K. Hepkins pose during a dual celebration at Williams’
home Saturday. — Tribune Photos by Nathaniel Lee
For full story go online to Philadelphia Tribune Duel celebration for Yeadon Judge
Justice W. Keith Williams II, left, Leon Howard and Yeadon
Mayor Rohan K. Hepkins pose during a dual celebration at Williams’
home Saturday. — Tribune Photos by Nathaniel Lee
For full story go online to Philadelphia Tribune Duel celebration for Yeadon Judge
It was a big day
for Justice W. Keith Williams II of Yeadon, who celebrated a double
anniversary at his home on Fairview Avenue in Yeadon on Sept. 5.
During the celebration attended by sharply dressed friends, relatives, colleagues and dignitaries, Williams celebrated the dual occasions of both his 50th birthday and his 20th year in legal practice.
Williams enjoy a comfortable living in his spacious home with a pool in a quiet Yeadon community but the judge began his life journey in Southwest Philadelphia where he lived until the age of 15.
“It was a great experience learning field, it built a lot of character and I think growing up in Southwest [Philly] I was able to develop the tenacity you need to be successful,” he said.
“Thank God my parents moved to Yeadon when I was 15, it was like I went to sleep and woke up in ‘The Cosby Show’ back in the early ‘80s,” he said.
Williams described that time in his life as “fabulous.”
“I think having that combination of inner-city experience but also going to a great school was a great opportunity, it was like pulling two worlds together and I think it made me the person I am today.”
Moving from Southwest Philadelphia to Yeadon, though only a short distance from one another geographically, seemed like worlds apart culturally.
“It was a culture shock in many ways, the music was different, the schools were different,” Williams said. “I found myself having to catch up, I found myself having to dig a little deeper to compete academically.”
But the graduate from Lincoln University who later attended North Carolina Central Law School did just that and, upon graduating, passed his bar exam on the first try and went promptly into business practicing law.
“When I came back home I realized there was a need for an attorney in Yeadon,” Williams said. “I saw the tides turning a little bit.”
Prior to going away to college, Williams said the racial makeup of Yeadon was around 80 percent white and 20 percent Black. When he returned things had changed significantly.
“When I got home I realized that tide was shifting, in a good way,” he said. “We were able to maintain a great community and we just got more African-American professionals and so I saw that opportunity and I took it.”
Williams opened his law office on Church Lane in Yeadon and said from that point on, he never looked back.
During that time, Williams ran for the office of District Judge of Yeadon and won adding to his already burgeoning list of personal accomplishments and said that one of the things he desired to do was to help youth.
One of the ways that Williams helps youth is through supporting the work of the Yeadon Education Athletic Association (YEAA).
“We are a nonprofit organization and right now we have soccer and basketball for ages five to 18,” said Leon Howard, who began working with the association after moving from Lansdowne to Yeadon and coaching soccer and basketball.
“That’s my ministry, serving the youth,” Howard said.
In lieu of giving gifts, those attending Williams’ celebration were asked to donate to the YEAA as a means of supporting the organizatoion’s work.
Also in attendance was Yeadon’s Mayor Rohan K. Hepkins who called Williams a very fair and consistent judge.
“He doesn’t take sides, he just renders justice according to the law and he calls it fairly,” Hepkins said. “He’s been very supportive of our borough and our law enforcement and he is very fair and consistent judge.”
Despite his accomplishments, Williams stated he wants to give back to youth.
“One of the things that I thrive on is trying to mentor youth,” he said. “I want to make sure that I’m that role model so when kids walk along Church Lane and they see my office it’s something tangible for them to aspire to.”
During the celebration attended by sharply dressed friends, relatives, colleagues and dignitaries, Williams celebrated the dual occasions of both his 50th birthday and his 20th year in legal practice.
Williams enjoy a comfortable living in his spacious home with a pool in a quiet Yeadon community but the judge began his life journey in Southwest Philadelphia where he lived until the age of 15.
“It was a great experience learning field, it built a lot of character and I think growing up in Southwest [Philly] I was able to develop the tenacity you need to be successful,” he said.
“Thank God my parents moved to Yeadon when I was 15, it was like I went to sleep and woke up in ‘The Cosby Show’ back in the early ‘80s,” he said.
Williams described that time in his life as “fabulous.”
“I think having that combination of inner-city experience but also going to a great school was a great opportunity, it was like pulling two worlds together and I think it made me the person I am today.”
Moving from Southwest Philadelphia to Yeadon, though only a short distance from one another geographically, seemed like worlds apart culturally.
“It was a culture shock in many ways, the music was different, the schools were different,” Williams said. “I found myself having to catch up, I found myself having to dig a little deeper to compete academically.”
But the graduate from Lincoln University who later attended North Carolina Central Law School did just that and, upon graduating, passed his bar exam on the first try and went promptly into business practicing law.
“When I came back home I realized there was a need for an attorney in Yeadon,” Williams said. “I saw the tides turning a little bit.”
Prior to going away to college, Williams said the racial makeup of Yeadon was around 80 percent white and 20 percent Black. When he returned things had changed significantly.
“When I got home I realized that tide was shifting, in a good way,” he said. “We were able to maintain a great community and we just got more African-American professionals and so I saw that opportunity and I took it.”
Williams opened his law office on Church Lane in Yeadon and said from that point on, he never looked back.
During that time, Williams ran for the office of District Judge of Yeadon and won adding to his already burgeoning list of personal accomplishments and said that one of the things he desired to do was to help youth.
One of the ways that Williams helps youth is through supporting the work of the Yeadon Education Athletic Association (YEAA).
“We are a nonprofit organization and right now we have soccer and basketball for ages five to 18,” said Leon Howard, who began working with the association after moving from Lansdowne to Yeadon and coaching soccer and basketball.
“That’s my ministry, serving the youth,” Howard said.
In lieu of giving gifts, those attending Williams’ celebration were asked to donate to the YEAA as a means of supporting the organizatoion’s work.
Also in attendance was Yeadon’s Mayor Rohan K. Hepkins who called Williams a very fair and consistent judge.
“He doesn’t take sides, he just renders justice according to the law and he calls it fairly,” Hepkins said. “He’s been very supportive of our borough and our law enforcement and he is very fair and consistent judge.”
Despite his accomplishments, Williams stated he wants to give back to youth.
“One of the things that I thrive on is trying to mentor youth,” he said. “I want to make sure that I’m that role model so when kids walk along Church Lane and they see my office it’s something tangible for them to aspire to.”
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