Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Williams was working as an office receptionist and raising her two children (from her 1961 marriage to Ralph Williams) at the time of receiving the award.
She divorced Ralph Williams, marrying James Perkins in 1982, and moved to the United States, where she toured and lectured extensively.
She spent time as a visiting professor at Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas and now lives in Huntsville and heads the Global Children's Foundation.