Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Daoud-David Williams: A Lifelong Advocate for Culture & Education

We remember and celebrate the life of Daoud-David Williams, who was born on July 23, 1943, and a treasured member of the Jersey City Free Public Library (JCFPL) family. Born to Elizabeth and John Williams, he was a lifelong resident of Jersey City and a successful student of the public school system. He attended Jersey City State College and Saint Peter’s College. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1963 and was a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.  

Since 1977, Daoud-David Williams served Jersey City as a community activist and co-founder of the Spirit of Life Ensemble and Community Awareness Series (CAS). CAS began as a collaboration between the Miller Branch Library and the Spirit of Life Ensemble to provide high-quality cultural experiences and educational programs to Jersey City’s underserved communities. Under Daoud-David Williams’ leadership, CAS conducted live performances, workshops, educational forums, multicultural presentations, children’s programs, and institutional outreach in Jersey City, Hudson County, and beyond.  

Williams was a mentor, a guide, and a friend to all who walked through Miller Branch’s doors. Through his work with the Community Awareness Series (CAS), he dedicated his time, passion, and expertise to the Jersey City Free Public Library. Through his kindness and dedication to education, he enriched the lives of countless patrons and provided the community with access to world-class musicians.  

We honor Daoud-David Williams’s legacy and how he touched the lives of the Jersey City Community. His presence will be dearly missed, but his spirit will forever remain in the heart of Jersey City Free Public Library and the community he loved so much.