North East ISD officials and other community members are paying tribute to school board Vice President Terri Williams, who died Aug. 6 following a lengthy illness. She was 59.

NEISD board President Shannon Grona shared a message Aug. 7 on the district’s social media about Williams’ death.

“Terri was committed to our community and to the students of North East ISD. She was elected to the board of trustees in 2018 and most recently served as the vice president of the board,” Grona said. “As an economic development professional, Terri brought a wealth of knowledge and experience into our discussions. We are thankful for her service and will miss her wonderful sense of humor and common sense approach.”

Williams lived in NEISD for more than 27 years and was elected to a second four-year term as the District 2 trustee in May 2022.

Williams had served on the NEISD bond steering committee and was a director of the Small Business Development Center Procurement Technical Assistance Center with The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Williams graduated from Wheatley High School and studied at UT-San Antonio.

NEISD officials have yet to announce how they will fill the vacant District 2 board seat.

Judson ISD board President Jose Macias said in a statement NEISD was blessed to have had Williams’ leadership.

“Rest in heaven fellow colleague and friend,” Macias added.

Ramiro Cavazos, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, shared a statement about Williams, who knew Cavazos during his time leading the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“She was an indefatigable champion for scaling small, minority and women-owned businesses and was a highly respected economic development expert,” Cavazos said. “Our collective hearts are broken with her passing this weekend. My sincere condolences to her family as we will miss her trusted leadership and quiet power.”