Ida Williams

Ida Mae Aiken Williams was born in New York City at Harlem Hospital on the 28th of January 1939 to Ida Lee (nèe Brown) and Eugene Aiken. She had two older brothers, Eugene, Jr. and William - or Genie and Bill as they were affectionately known, and was soon to have a younger sister, Joann.
Dirty Red, as she became known due to the color of her hair, blossomed and anxiously waited for the time when she would be able to start kindergarten. When you asked her what class she was in, she would almost sing – kindergarten extension one dot two. Ida attended Public School 113 from kindergarten through the 6th grade. From there, she went to P.S. 81, an all-girls' school that was called Junior High from the seventh to the ninth grade. While there, she would often have lunch at her Grandmother, Cora Louise Brown's house, which consisted mostly of bologna and sardine sandwiches while she watched soap operas – a pastime she would eventually share with her own grandchildren, minus the sardines.
High school came calling rather quickly and Ida was excited about choosing which high school to attend. Fortunately for many of us, she chose what is now known as the High School of Fashion Industries. It was there that she discovered her God-given talent to take a piece of cloth and turn it into a magnificent creation. That talent followed her throughout her life as she used it to bless her family and many others.
Her first big project, and a labor of love, was the wedding dress of her sister Joann. From there, she went on to make dresses for other brides as well as the attire for their wedding parties, and her fees were always reasonable and fair. She became well known for her incredible alterations, prom and wedding dresses, and custom designs. She had a gift for individualizing her own patterns: she would take the sleeves from one garment, the neckline from another, and turn them into a unique one-of-a-kind fashion. And she didn't stop at clothing. From curtains and slipcovers to bedspreads, and even furniture reupholstery, she had you covered there. Often, while sewing, she would trick her grandkids into hanging out with her by having them "treasure hunt" for fallen pins on the floor with a big magnet. She was also known to always have a 2-liter of Diet Pepsi soda on hand, from which she would drink straight from the bottle. Her grandchildren wanted to drink from the bottle as well, so she would pour some into their mouths, and they got a big kick out of that. This paired with a single Twizzler were the perks of hanging out with their "Gram".
On September 14, 1958, she married Obadiah Williams, and from that union came five children: Sharon, Darrell, Karen, Charlene, and Charenelle. After residing in Brooklyn for a few years, they purchased a home in Queens. Ida was a woman of many talents and became a self-taught handywoman. After receiving an outrageous contractor quote of $3000 to open up a wall between her living room and kitchen, she said, "He has got to be kidding!" She purchased a book bundle on carpentry and completed the project-the first of her many future home improvement endeavors, including flooring, electrical work, and plumbing. Her proudest moment came when her late brother-in-law, Lloyd Gaynor Sr., an expert carpenter, praised her craftsmanship.
As a dedicated worker throughout her years of employment, her jobs consisted of substitute teaching and being a teacher's aide, helping to shape young minds. During the 1960s, she worked as a telephone operator in Manhattan. In the 1980s, she manufactured cushions and slipcovers for the furniture company ACI and later worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Brooklyn as a switchboard operator. And of course, she maintained her side-hustle of providing alterations to her customers. Her final place of employment was the New York Blood Center, where she started as an operator and later took on the responsibility of scheduling and ordering supplies for the company's maintenance team. She referred to them as "her guys". Ida Mae was such an asset that when she was ready to retire, they asked her to "please stay on". And so, she did, ending her career two years later, for a total of twenty-two (22) years with The New York Blood Center.
In her spare time, Ida Mae loved watching old Western TV shows, like Bonanza and The Rifleman, and family-themed shows like Leave It To Beaver and Andy Griffin, which often inspired her. After watching A Brady Bunch Christmas, she decided to have all of her children, their spouses, and their children come for a Christmas sleepover. She started cooking and having everyone over for Sunday dinners, thanks to Blue Bloods, but her favorites were court shows like Judge Judy, Judge Mathis, Judge Alex, and Judge Joe Brown, to name a few. Ida Mae was known to spew legal language for various situations, saying, "I didn't watch those judge shows for nothing."
In her leisure time, she found great joy in playing card games, particularly Phase Ten, Skip-Bo, and Golf. She carried a deck of cards with her wherever she went, teaching family, friends, and even fellow senior citizens at local senior centers how to play. Her love of these games, like her love of fun and laughter, brought people together and created cherished memories. She will forever be in our hearts.
Ida Mae was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene Aiken Sr. and Ida Lee Aiken; her brothers, Eugene Aiken Jr. and William Aiken Sr.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and creativity, survived by her five children: Sharon Martin-Prendergast, Darrell Williams, Karen Williams-Nelson, Charlene Williams, and Charenelle Williams; nine grandchildren: Ida Lee Chance, Raymond Boyd, Takisha Williams, Akima Aiken Brown, Dariell Williams, Tyrone Lane, Kristina Prendergast, Charenelle Maya Thompson, and Keolani Williams; thirteen great-grandchildren: Stephen Galley, Jordan Williams, Greg Small, Jr., Kai Small, Keanu Williams, Xavier Brown, Nelson Williams, Jr., Alanea Williams, Matthew Lane, Korbin Prendergast, Malia Williams, Nova Lane, Nailah Linton and two great-great-grandchildren: Zion Galley and Kaden Wiles.
She is also survived by her sister, Joann Gaynor, and sister-in-laws Helen Aiken and Joyce Aiken, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Ida Mae Aiken Williams was a woman of immense skill, determination, and generosity. Whether through the stitches in a gown, the walls she built with her own hands, or the card games she loved to share, she left an indelible mark on those around her. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered for the love and creativity she poured into everything she did.
In her own words, "I know I will be missed, but I lived a good life, so don't be sad."
Visitation for Ida Williams will Friday September 19. 2025 4-8pm.
Cremation will be private