Purvis J. Williams
*Purvis J. Williams was born on this date in 1907. He was a Black educator and administrator. Purvis James Williams was born in Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia. He was the son of Bascom J. Williams and Nannie Williams. On November 23, 1938, Williams married Blanche Marie Kyles in the District of Columbia. They had no children.
He was Assistant Principal at District of Columbia's Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School, where he had previously been a classroom educator.
Dr. Purvis J. Williams was the founding Principal of Joel Elias Spingarn Senior High School, located on Education Hill at 26th Street and Benning Road NE in Washington, D.C. He served as principal from its inception in Spring 1952 until his retirement in June 1971, the school's longest-serving principal. Spingarn was known for its academic, sports, music, and vocational education curricula and programs.
The school closed in June 2012 due to low enrollment. Purvis James Williams died on September 5, 2009, in Alexandria, Alexandria City, Virginia.
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