Biography: Valerie Ann Williams-Riedemonn was the sixth of 10 children born to the late Alfred and Wilhemina Williams on December 20th, 1961 in Jamaica New York.
Valerie was an athletic child that loved to play sports. She was educated through the New York City Public School System. While growing up Valerie stayed in shape by running track. She graduated from Francis Lewis High School in Queens in 1979. After a brief stint in trade school in Florida, Valerie returned to New York to work various jobs.
In 1983, Valerie landed a job on Wall Street with the brokerage firm Pershing. She worked there for a couple of years, and in 1986 on her lunch break she went for an interview at Kidder Peabody and was offered the job the same day with a hefty raise. She went back to work and presented her job offer to her company and they refused to meet her or exceed the offer she got. She put in her resignation and joined Kidder Peabody in March of 1986.
Shortly after starting at Kidder Peabody Valerie caught the eye and attention of a young handsome co-worker by the name Victor and it was a match made in heaven and love at first site for both of them. After dating for a couple of years on January 1st 1989, Victor took Valerie for a New Year’s dinner at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. During a dinner of Lamb and Duck, Victor got on one knee and proposed to Valerie and she said yes!!! Without finishing their dinner, Valerie wanted to let everyone know she was engaged, and that same night that they got engaged Valerie also informed him they was going to get married on Saturday August 19th, 1989… and that they did. From this union one son was born named Victor Jamel.
Valerie worked for other brokerage firms after leaving Kidder Peabody. She worked at Shearson, Citigroup and Smith Barney. After leaving Smith Barney, Valerie inquired and got an administrative assistant position. Valerie was also in charge of running a food pantry right here at Mt. Zion A.M.E Church.
Valerie was an avid sports fan. She loved Track and Field, Football but at heart, she was a basketball fan. She was a diehard New York Knick fan. She also was a New York Liberty fan. Valerie would root for all New York teams except the New York Mets. She would root for the Yankees because her son Jamel is a Yankee fan. She was her son’s biggest and loudest fan. If it was dropping buckets in basketball games, scoring winning touchdowns in homecoming games, or winning gold medals in track and field at the Mayor’s Cup, Jamel was the apple of her eye and so close to her heart.
After a short stay at the hospital, on September 15th, 2018 the good lord called her name and took her home to be with him.
Valerie Ann leaves to cherish her memory: her true love/husband: Victor Valentino, her heart, soul and apple of her eye, her loving son Victor Jamel. His girlfriend, who she always called her daughter in law Jodyann Cole. Four brothers: Alfred Williams, Yerling Williams, Yusef Bey, Victor Williams. Four sisters: Yvonne Dansby, Rita Albritton, Annette Williams and Gayle Gould. Two brother in laws: James Thomas and Melvin Riedemonn. Six sister in laws: Rainella Earl, Esther Scott, Diane Pretlow, Theola Riedemonn, Pat Williams and Dee Williams. 3 Close friends: Marsha, Karen and Nanette. A close co worker: Smitty and a close confidant Rev. Joann Owings and a host of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends.
