Ohioana Citation for Writing and Editing: 2009
Jerri Williams Lawrence and Kay Williams
Kenton OH natives
Editors, One Last Dance
It could be said, “like father like daughters.” Mardo Williams’ 44 year career as a journalist
was followed by his authoring a book about his mother, then a children’s book, and, finally at age
92, a novel about finding love at any age. Mardo’s lifelong love of writing and words most
certainly rubbed off on his daughters so they were unquestionably qualified to
honor his request that they to finish his book One Last Dance if he died before the final edit was complete.
Jerri Williams Lawrence and Kay Williams kept their promise and the world is richer because of their efforts.
Jerri Williams Lawrence earned her B.S. and M.S. in Education from The Ohio State University.
She taught English for more than thirty years in the Worthington, Ohio public schools.
During her career she taught journalism, composition, humanities, and speech, and served as the advisor for the high school newspaper,
Cardinal Chronicle, and the literary magazine Acropolis. In 1986 she was selected Teacher of the Year.
Administrators, colleagues, students, and parents have praised Jerri for professional and personal contributions as a teacher.
Kay Williams received a B.A. in theater, French, and English from Western College in
Oxford, Ohio, and a B.S. in Education from The Ohio State University.
She makes her home in New York City were she has been a professional
actress for over 20 years. Her work has included off-Broadway productions,
regional repertory, films, radio, and TV. She is also a writer and has helped edit more than sixty books.
Her suspense novel about the theater, Butcher of Dreams, is co-authored with friend Eileen Wyman.
Jerri and Kay individually have made great contributions in their chosen fields, but as daughters they used their editorial skills in a
labor of love to bring their father’s book to reality. They have also developed and presented programs around the state and country
based on issues raised in One Last Dance.
Interview with Jerri Williams
Lawrence and Kay Williams
From Reader View website about One Last Dance
