Willie C. Fields Sr.

Willie C. Fields, Sr. went from labor to reward on September 19, 2008. He was born on February 7, 1916 in Baton Rouge, LA to the late Daniel and Susie Fields.He was educated in Baton Rouge, LA and attended Leland College. Willie served in the United States Army from 1944 until his honorable discharge in 1945. He was united in holy matrimony to Doris A. Davis on December 18, 1942. Together they dedicated their lives to family and community.Willie was employed by the City of Niagara Falls in the Finance Department from 1951 until his retirement in 1981. In 1946 he built a grocery store at the corner of 20th Street and Center Avenue (Fields’ Food Market). This was the first minority owned grocery store in the City of Niagara Falls. He, along with his wife, owned and operated the business for 25 years. Willie also received the first retail liquor license issued to a minority in Niagara County. He and his wife owned and operated Fields’ Liquor Store for more than 14 years. In 1986 Willie came out of retirement and returned to work for the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation where he was employed until August 2004. He was appointed to the Human Rights Commission of the City of Niagara Falls where he served for 10 years. In 1987 Willie was appointed by the Niagara Falls City Council to serve on the Niagara Falls Civil Service Commission. He served on the Commission until his death. Willie was a former member of the Electric City Lodge #49, the Sunset Lodge #295, the F and AM Masons, the Elks IBPOE Lodge, the Niagara Falls City Democratic Committee, the NAACP, the Niagara Falls Rotary Club and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Corporation. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Highland Avenue Preservation Corporation, Area 1 Preservation Corporation and the Niagara Community Center and Girls Club. Honors given in recognition of his service to the community included the Levy Brothers Award “Outstanding Achievement in Civic Affairs”, the Pauline L. Brown Commissioner’s Award, the Niagara Falls City Democratic Committee “Democrat of the Year”, the Niagara County Black Achiever’s “Community Service Award” and the Niagara Falls Community Housing Resource Board “Family Focus Award.”.Willie leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 66 years, Doris; four daughters, Gloria Y. Fields, Deloris M. Fields, Annie Fields-Chapman and Elizabeth A. (Robert) Bradley; one son, Willie C. Fields, Jr. and a “special” son, David Carr. Also nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews. Willie was preceded in death by his brother, Daniel Fields and sister, Henrietta Fields-Seals of Baton Rouge, LA.Friends may call Wednesday, September 24th from 5:00-8:00 PM at the St. John A.M.E. Church, 917 Garden Avenue. Services will be conducted on Thursday, September 25th at 11:00 AM. The Rev. B. Leslie James officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Willow Lodge Community Living Center - 9A, c/o Voluntary Services, Department of Veterans Affairs VA Western New York Healthcare System, 3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215. Arrangements made by the Williamson Funeral Home.Visit www.legacy.com/niagara-gazette for on-line guest register.
This obituary was originally published in the Greater Niagara Newspapers.