Life Member & AFM Local 47 Secretary/Treasurer Emeritus. String Bass
4/9/1921 – 10/4/2025

by Bonnie Janofsky

We lost Serena Kay Williams at 104 years young after an amazing career as a vocalist and bassist and decades of loyal service to AFM Local 47 and the labor community at large.

After joining the Executive Board in 1977, she was the first woman elected to serve as a full-time titled officer, serving as Secretary/Treasurer from 1985 until her retirement in 2007 when she was awarded the title of Secretary/Treasurer Emeritus.

She may be the only member to have attended both of Local 47’s grand openings: on January 21, 1950 at 817 Vine Street when she joined the Local; and on May 21, 2018 in Burbank. Serena was a proud Local 47 member for over 75 years.

Serena started out as a vocalist, then after joining the Earl Williams Sweet With a Beat Orchestra, she studied bass, then also played 18 years in the well-known all-women trio The Coquettes along with Doris Crane and Chickie Fortina. She was both a consummate musician and labor leader.

During the time that Serena served as Secretary/Treasurer, she was very active in the labor community and was honored with numerous awards including the Jewish Labor Committee’s esteemed Jim Doherty Dor L’Dor Mentoring Award. She expertly represented AFM 47 and inspired many young musicians, both women and men.

On Vine Street, after a renovation was the dedication of the Serena Kay and Earl Williams Auditorium, honoring her and her husband Earl who was also a longtime active and dedicated member, having given many years of service to the Local.

It was a such an honor, pleasure and learning experience to serve with my dear friend Serena on the Board and to work with her up close! She leaves an enormous legacy, having paved the way for women to fully participate in union and labor leadership.

Serena, you will live on in our hearts forever and I hope that you are now reunited with the love of your life, your husband Earl.