The Unitarian Universalist Association deeply grieves the unexpected death of Elandria Williams on September 23, 2020. In memoriam, we joined the outpouring of tributes that honor E’s vision and legacy.

Elandria Williams (1979–2020) served as Co-Moderator of the Association, alongside the Rev. Mr. Barb Greve, from August 2017 to June 2020. Elandria was an incomparable leader, joyous presence and indomitable force in our Unitarian Universalist community and beyond. We will be forever grateful for Elandria’s legacy in our faith tradition.

Elandria was a member of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is also where E grew up. Elandria was elected to the UUA Board of Trustees in 2016and held a six-year term on the Presidential Search Committee. E was a founding member of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) Organizing Collective.

Elandria served earlier on the board of what was then known as the Thomas Jefferson District and on the district’s Anti-Racism Transformation Team; as a trainer and coordinator for Groundwork; as the Southern Regional Organizing Consultant for the UUA Young Adult Office; as a Chrysalis Trainer on Chaplaincy and Leadership Development; and twice as General Assembly Coordinator for Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM).

At the time of Elandria’s death, E was executive director of PeoplesHub and co-editor of Beautiful Solutions. E had also previously worked on the Education Team of the Highlander Research and Education Center.