Pearl Elizabeth Knox-Williams was born to Elizabeth Morgan Knox-Proctor (December 10, 1910-March 31,2001) and Espy Knox Sr. (August 14,1914-February 8, 1975) on a day of Holy Obligation December 8, 1936. Pearl Knox attended Saint Anselm Roman Catholic School with her siblings had no school on her birthday. She was the sister of Leona Ruth Knox-Burnley (February 14, 1938-December 28,1987), Espy Knox Junior (June 28,1935-May 9,1991), Morgan Knox (May 26,1940-November 16,1988), all of her siblings preceded her in death. Pearl attended Hyde Park High School from 1951to 1955, she believed in integration and was often seen on the beach with her Jewish friends. Pearl's first employment was a secretary over at the University of Chicago. Her smile was better than a crocodile and it landed her a job as a paper model for Spiegle Magazine. Pearl Knox attended Wilson Junior College for an Associate Degree in Elementary Education and graduated in 1957.

Pearl Knox and Burnell Williams met each other in 1956 in two places and the same time, Pearl was playing bridge with Gloria Cartman-Roosley and he stepped in and beat both of them. Burnell needed a dentist and Pearl referred him to Espy Knox Sr. for a dental plate. Pearl had to hurry so she would not be late for a modeling take and Burnell gave her a lift, he mentioned how it was interesting that we are going to the same place. Burnell was modeling for a matchbook take and suits for men. Pearl Knox lived in Burnell Williams' aunt Camie building and they courted each other. Pearl vacationed in Michigan and Burnell's aunts had property in Michigan and Pearl was invited and loved by all. Pearl and Burnell Williams married in Chicago and eloped to Michigan in July of 1957. Pearl modeled for Spiegle until 1965.

On September 27, 1958 Pearl Williams gave birth to her first born, her beloved Bernadette Elizabeth Williams (d. August 13, 2021). Pearl wanted the best for her so she attended Saint Anselm Roman Catholic School as well. Aunt Gertude and Uncle Parker favored Pearl and Bernadette and Sarah Williams, the mother of Burnell loved her for what she could do for her son. Pearl's first born Bernadette attended Saint Anselm with her first cousins Renee, Denon, and the beloved August Williams. Seven years later, November 15, 1965 Pearl gave Burnell a mischievous son, Burnell Philip Williams Jr., and he too went to Saint Anselm Roman Catholic School and was an alter server. Five years later on a bitter cold Saturday January 16, 1971, Pearl gave birth to her last loving and caring child Morganna Sarah Williams. Pearl had her to attend Saint Anselm School as well graduating in the top tier of the class of 1985.

Integration for Negroes at the time was for improvement of the socioeconomic advances and Pearl E. Williams in 1976 worked two jobs: Chicago Board of Education by day and the graveyard shift for University of Chicago Security Department. As for the latter, Pearl was the first Negro to work in such a field under Lt. Sgt. Hammermeister. The University of Chicago hired Lt. Sgt. Rudolph Nimocks in 1980, the first African American (as people of color are classified today) to be the Commander in Chief. Pearl loved the Christmas parties and went every year at the Martinique until she just did not want to attend anymore. Pearl Williams taught at various public schools: Wentworth, Betsy Ross from 1976 to 1985 during the years Morganna attended St. Anselm, for it was a hop skip and jump away just in case of an emergency and Brete Harte, located in the neighborhood of Hyde Park where Pearl and her family lived for the past 50 years.

Pearl Williams loved to party and travel and that she did! Pearl chaperoned Morganna on all of the state delegation trips with the Junior Daughters of St. Peter Claver. One year to Texas on a bus, Pearl demanded that the ladies raise more money for plane fare. One year Pearl had planned to attend to chaperone Morganna to California. Little did Morganna know what was in store. Pearl and Morganna stayed behind and Pearl took Morganna on tour of the whole state from north to south. Visiting Ralph Bunch, a friend from Hyde Park H.S. and his mother. Uncle Morgan's wife sister-in-law DeLoris Knox and other notable places like Fisherman Warf Pier 39 and Chinatown, Redwood Forest, Napa Valley Winery. Eating in fine dinning rooms of some of California's best restaurants. Morganna was exhausted and did not know her mother could move in such a way. It was the first vacation Pearl had in a long time.

Pearl Williams was much like her mother when it came to traveling, she began by going on tour of every state on the mainland of America. Magnets decorated her refrigerator and coffee mugs delighted her table. She preferred her coffee black no sugar and no cream. Another skill that Pearl had was mixing martinis, every time the Cartman family had a picnic to honor Alfred Cartman Sr. Pearl came with her martini ingredients and DeNon, "little Ronnie" made sure he had one or two of Pearls' martinis.

Pearl's life became a tragedy losing her brothers and her sister Leona to whom she spoke to daily. The final blow was losing her husband Burnell Williams (January 1, 1920-November 10, 1988). Deloris Knox honored Pearl with a gift of a cruise in the Caribbean Islands, Virgin Islands such as St. Lucia. Her daughters comforted her as much as they could but in 1990 Pearl had a mild heart attack, carotid artery had to be stinted open and her doctor gave her the best vascular surgeon, the Egyptian Dr. Harim Bouyssini. She survived and after that retired from the Chicago Board of Education as a teacher assistant to the Special Education: EMH (Brete Harte). But Pearl kept her job as Security Williams at the University of Chicago until she retired 2002. The retirement party to her surprise was at The Pub in Ida Noyes Hall on campus.

In 1990 Pearl began spending time with the oldest daughter, Bernadette attending musicals and plays in Chicago finest theaters but also the best times of Pearl E. Williams life was going on Brandon Tours around the world. She visited Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria Tunisia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, and the last trip that was planned was France with Bernadette but September 11, 2001 halted all travels for everyone. Whenever and where ever Pearl traveled she brought back gifts for her children and friends, of course the daughters received jewelry and clothes as well as her son. Pictures of the exotic places and cruises. Pearl also enjoyed eating and that she did. Pearl allowed her passport to close along with Bernadette and home she stayed. Pearl, Peppe (Bernadette), and Penny (Morganna): the three peas in a pod. In May of 2007 Pearl underwent a triple bypass, and her personal nurse became Morganna S. Williams. In August of 2021 Pearl suffered the lost her first born: Bernadette E. Williams, the tragedy no mother would ever need to have. Pearl heart began to fail and even though vaccinated for Covid, she contracted the virus while in the hospital for the last surgery of her right dorsal foot ulcer which was relieved by the finest vascular surgeon, Dr. Andrew Russeau, at St. Joseph Hospital.

October 22, 2022 as the sun was rising and Morganna at bedside Pearl rose to Heaven in the glorious heart of the Harvest in room 841 of St. Joseph Hospital in Lincoln Park.

Pearl E. Knox-Williams leaves to mourn her children: a loving and caring daughter, Morganna S. Williams and her mischievous son, Burnell P. Williams Jr. One grandson Cyrus N. Williams Sr., and four great- grandsons: Cyrus N. Williams Jr., Nathaniel B. Williams, Armand Zion Williams, Zion B. Williams. Nieces and nephews: Stevie Avery, DeNon Williams, DeVone Constance Williams- Phillips, Diane Williams-Bright,Vincent Knox, Kevin Knox, Malcolm, Knox, Samuel Knox, Anthony Knox, Susan Knox. Claudette Williams sister-in-law: Linda Knox and family. Kristopher Knox and family. Family in Michigan and nieces and nephews in and around Chicago.