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Sen. Thurmond's daughter comes 'home' for award

The late Sen. Strom Thurmond's biracial daughter, Essie Mae Washington-Williams speaks, at a press conference on the campus of South Carolina State University Friday. (Photo by CHRISTOPHER HUFF/T&D)

The retired California educator who came forward last year as the biracial daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond received an honorary doctor of education degree Friday.

Essie Mae Washington-Williams received the degree at South Carolina State University's spring commencement convocation in Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium.

Dr. Rita Teal, interim vice president for academic affairs, introduced the honoree.

Williams' "lifelong dedication to education has enriched the lives of thousands in her roles as classroom teacher, assistant principal and college lecturer," Teal said.

Williams, 78, spent her 30-year career in the Los Angeles area, but has become known throughout the nation since acknowledging that her father was Thurmond.

Thurmond was the longest-serving U.S. senator in history. He ran for president in 1948 on a platform of racial segregation.

Williams' mother was Carrie Butler, an African-American maid who worked in the Thurmond family home.

Thurmond provided financial assistance to Williams and visited her while she was a student at S.C. State, but he never acknowledged her as his daughter. He died last year at the age of 100.

Williams told reporters Friday she had signed a book deal with a major publisher. Her attorney said her advance is in the high six figures.

Williams said she anticipates promoting her book in appearances on Larry King, Oprah and other television shows. A CBS-TV movie is scheduled to follow. She has also begun a college lecture series.

"She has embarked on the task of educating a nation," Teal said.

Williams did not speak at commencement, but earlier in the day she met with reporters and said she feels "greatly honored" to be the recipient of an honorary degree from S.C. State.

"It came very much as a surprise, but a most wonderful one. I feel wonderful about that," she said.

She said she thought Thurmond would have been proud of her. "He was the person who was responsible for me coming to South Carolina State. He recommended it as a wonderful school," Williams said.

After three years, "I got married" to a law student, "and of course with marriage came the children. I had four children."

She also had a career, primarily in adult education, which she said was rewarding, and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in California.

She visited S.C. State about 10 years ago and saw "they had made quite a number of changes on the campus. There are even more changes now," she said.

Another highlight of this trip has been visiting with some of her Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters.

"It feels great" to be back, she said. "My experiences here have been just wonderful. I've enjoyed every minute."

Williams has been accepted into the Thurmond family. She visited with her half-brother, Strom Thurmond Jr., on Thursday and plans to visit her other half-brother, Paul, in Charleston in two weeks.

She said she has been "in constant touch with Nancy," her stepmother. "She is a very wonderful person and has done many things to try to help me."

She said she feels "wonderful" about legislative efforts to have her name added on the monument to her father on the Statehouse grounds in Columbia.

She said she "wouldn't rule out" moving to South Carolina someday. The people of South Carolina, including the residents of Orangeburg, "are so loving, I can say that from my heart," she said. "The people here are so warm. ... I feel very much at home."

T&D Staff Writer Lee Hendren can be reached by e-mail at lhendren@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5552.