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K, passed away peacefully today, surrounded by loved ones, following a private and courageous battle with prostate cancer. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife Valorie Roberson-Williams, son Lateef Adé Williams, daughter-in-law Valerie Pinckney-Williams, and grandson Lenox A. Williams. Funeral arrangements are pending.
An influential business and community leader, Williams worked tirelessly to bridge cultural, economic identity and civic engagement across Harlem and beyond for more than half a century. As President and CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, the second oldest continuous business/civic organization in Manhattan (originally founded in 1896), he oversaw decades of economic, cultural and civic growth in Harlem, steering through major transitions including the COVID 19 pandemic to what is often described as a modern “Second Harlem Renaissance.” Under his leadership, GHCC has also spearheaded efforts to address affordable housing, education, health equity, climate change and the digital divide.
Williams was the architect and co-founder of HARLEM WEEK, which started as a one-day event (HARLEM DAY) organized by the Honorable Percy S. Sutton in 1974 to create positivity in the community and promote the neighborhood’s rich history and culture during a time of economic and social challenges. Under Williams’ guidance as chairman, his childhood friend and event co-founder and executive producer Voza Rivers, and countless others—HARLEM WEEK has expanded into an 11 day globally recognized festival attracting over 2.5 million attendees and is one of the largest summer even in the Northeast, affirming Harlem’s legacy and propelling its future growth.
Williams also held leadership positions and served on numerous boards including president of the Greater Harlem Housing Development Corporation (GHHDC), vice chairman of Harlem Arts Alliance, executive committee member of the NYC Tourism + Conventions Board of Directors, chairman of the President’s Executive Advisory Board at City College of New York, founding board member of the Apollo Theater, and executive board member of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
Williams has served as a guest lecturer in the areas of urban development, economics, tourism, and business at colleges and universities including Cooper Union, Hunter College, The City College of New York, Rutgers University, Columbia University, Pratt Institute, Shaw University, University of Michigan, Fordham University, and The New School for Social Research.
Among other prestigious educational awards and presentations, Williams is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the internationally renowned, and prestigious University of the West Indies.
A lifelong Harlem resident, with family roots in the neighborhood dating back to 1919, Lloyd Williams was born January 16, 1945 in Jamaica and moved to New York City at the age of 2. He grew up on West 120th Street, between Lenox and Seventh Avenues, and was deeply immersed in Harlem’s culture from a young age.
As a child, Williams was significantly influenced by his grandmother, who instilled in him the values of education and community engagement. His grandmother played a central role in motivating him to “make education a priority” and to use the principles of political activist Marcus Garvey to uplift people of color.
Williams’ unofficial godfather, Malcolm X, gave him early exposure to civic leadership and activism and he credited mentors including the late Charles B. Rangel, Hazel Dukes, Harry Belafonte, Percy S. Sutton, and Basil Paterson, and close friends including Voza Rivers, Attallah Shabazz, Inez Dickens, and H. Carl McCall, and Ken Sunshine, to help shape his worldview and lifelong commitment to Harlem, New York City and the “Harlems of the World.” He was also a member of several organizations including the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge and a lifetime member of the NAACP and National Action Network.
Williams received numerous community accolades and has been recognized as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential New Yorkers” by City and State New York, one of the “Top 25 Most Influential Black New Yorkers” by the New York Amsterdam News and one of the “Most Influential Black Professionals” by the New York Christian Times. Williams has also received ‘Front Page’ awards from New York Daily News, New York Carib News, the New York Christian Times, and the New York Beacon.
He has also written numerous articles which have been featured in local, regional, and national publications, co-produced TV specials on FOXTV, NBC4, CBS2, WNET, and WOR9, and co-hosted regular radio programs on WBLS-FM, WHCR.FM, and WLIB-AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made to HARLEM WEEK.
Additionally, Williams cancer was discovered through routine screening, a testament to the life-saving importance of early detection. His family encourages others to prioritize regular checkups and screenings, as Lloyd believed deeply in the power of awareness and prevention, particularly among Black men.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Lloyd Williams on Saturday, August 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Salem United Methodist Church, 2190 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. (between 129th and 130th Sts
