Williams v. The Board of Education Fairfax District (1898) was a significant but often overlooked civil rights victory, predating Brown v. Board of Education by over 50 years. Williams challenged the Tucker County Board of Education’s decision to shorten the school year for Black students while maintaining a full term for White students. Her fight, including teaching beyond the mandated term without pay, was an act of resistance to segregation.

With the help of J. R. Clifford, the first Black lawyer in West Virginia, the case argued that racial discrimination was unconstitutional. The West Virginia Supreme Court's decision in Williams’ favor set an important legal precedent for future civil rights cases.