I learned last month that Willa Fae Williams had died peacefully on January 28, 2026 at Nazareth Home and Rehabilitation Center in Louisville, following a brief illness. While she had been eagerly anticipating the celebration of her 90th birthday in March, it appears she got a better invitation and accepted it.
I sat and talked to her when she was planning her retirement, and her hopes that the church would carry on when she left. She was proud of the things that she had accomplished in Portland. She talked about the many people she had met in the community and how Good Shepherd Catholic Church and Father Burke opened their church after the devastating fire that destroyed the first Presbyterian Church on Portland Avenue on January 16, 2009. According to the congregation history, the church was 155 years old at the time of the fire. In February 2012 despite the devastating loss of the historic church, the congregation rebuilt and dedicated a new home three years later in the old Kroger building on Portland Avenue.
Willa Fae had many friends in our community and is missed very much. After retirement in September 2024, she came back to the church for many Sundays to play the piano during the service.
Willa Fae touched many with her powerful gifts of music and leadership as she directed choral and hand bell choirs in addition to her work as an organist and accompanist. From the age of 8 to 89, every Sunday morning found her on a piano or organ bench until two months before her death.
She also loved education – both teaching and learning. Willa Fae eventually obtained three Master’s Degrees – in Math, Music and Divinity. She graduated from Dupont Manual High School in 1953, and then completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville. At the age of 19, she achieved status as a concert organist performing in cathedrals throughout the United States and Western Europe. Simultaneously, she assumed full-time teaching responsibilities in Math in Jefferson County Public Schools.
Her aspiration as a concert organist were dashed by her health challenges and she ceased performing and left teaching to pursue further study in music at St. Anne’s College of Oxford, England. She returned to Louisville in 1958 and resumed teaching for Jefferson County Public Schools. Her tenure at Iroquois High School lasted 35 years, serving as the Head of the Math Department and teaching Math, Physics and Computer Science.
Upon retirement from Jefferson County Public Schools, Willa Fae again returned to study – this time at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, earning a Masters of Divinity. She was ordained as a Minister in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and joined the Coalition for the Homeless. She contributed to the work of developing a notable shelter network for the homeless throughout Louisville. In 1997, she became Pastor of the Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church where she served for the 27 years.
Her work was her life. Willa Fae had an indomitable spirit, advocating for children and youth, promoting education and social justice. Her fortitude both opened and closed doors throughout her life, but she was undeterred when it came to meeting her own goals, even when it meant “going it alone”. Despite her commanding personality, Willa Fae had a tender and humorous underside. Through her successive careers, she developed a large network of committed friends and maintained life-long connections with friends, musicians, students and colleagues in ministry.
A celebration of her life was held at Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 3126 Portland Avenue, Louisville.
