Virginia Williams grew up in Washington, D.C. and was a graduate of Dunbar High School, earned her bachelor's degree from Miners Teachers College ( now UDC ) and her Masters in Counseling from American University. Her career in education began at West Charlotte High School,  in Charlotte, N.C, as an English and History teacher. Virginia Williams attended Officer Training School and became an officer in the U.S. Army. After her service in the U.S. Army, she returned to education teaching soldiers at Ft. Belvoir, VA and also worked for New Careers in Alex. VA. In 1973, she began her career as a school counselor at Fort Hunt High School in Alex. VA and in Jan. 1980, she became the Director of Student Services at Mt. Vernon High School also in Alex. VA, becoming the first African American woman to hold the position in Fairfax County Public Schools. Virginia Williams retired from Fairfax County Public Schools in 1993.​

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Virginia Williams was very active in the Northern Virginia community. Some local organizaitons she was involved with were:  the  Northern Virginia Urban League where she was a charter member and board director for multiple years, charter member for the  Northern Virginia Urban League Guild, where she served as the chair of the Scholarship committee and co-facilitator for the  PSAT workshop,  charter member for  Black Women United for Action (BWUFA), Route One Corridor Housing, Inc. ( now New Hope Housing) where she served as a member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Trustees,  Fairfax County Commission for Women serving as the first African American woman appointed by the County Supervisor,  served on the Virginia Committee for Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention appointed by Gov. Balilies, developed a program for Effective Parenting of Children:  Birth to Five Years for mothers of Subsidized Housing, authored Parenting Skills Resource book, organized and implemented a Day Long Convocation of African American and Hispanic American students in the Mt. Vernon area of Fairfax County, The Dynamics of Diversity, As We Move Toward the Twenty First Century , served on Mason Scholars Scholarship Committee for the 10th Congressional district applicants for George Mason University, served as Lay member for Virginia State Bar, served as president  of the Alex./Mt. Vernon chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc., a long time member of Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and more.

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Virginia Williams  wanted to ensure that high school students were prepared with the knowledge and confidence to forge successful and meaningful careers and life, after high school, through her educational career and community involvement.   The VWHSCA, Inc. is honored and proud to continue her legacy.

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"First you have to help kids recognize their own value, once they have a feeling of self worth, they can deal with the larger world."

~Virginia Williams