New York J 1558: Mourning the death of Margaret D. Williams, legendary vocalist and community leader

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
J01558 Summary:

BILL NOJ01558 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

&nbsp

COSPNSRADDABBO, ASHBY, BAILEY, BASKIN, BORRELLO, BOTTCHER, BRISPORT, BROUK, BYNOE, CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK,
 CHAN, CLEARE, COMRIE, COONEY, FAHY, FERNANDEZ, GALLIVAN, GIANARIS, GONZALEZ, GOUNARDES, GRIFFO,
 HARCKHAM, HELMING, HINCHEY, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, KRUEGER, LANZA, LIU, MARTINEZ, MARTINS, MATTERA,
 MAY, MAYER, MURRAY, MYRIE, OBERACKER, O'MARA, ORTT, PALUMBO, PARKER, PERSAUD, RAMOS, RHOADS,
 RIVERA, ROLISON, RYAN C, SALAZAR, SANDERS, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO, SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, STEC,
 STEWART-COUSINS, SUTTON, TEDISCO, WALCZYK, WEBB, WEBER, WEIK, ZELLNER

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top J01558 Actions:

BILL NOJ01558 

&nbsp

02/05/2026REFERRED TO FINANCE

02/10/2026REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

02/10/2026ADOPTED

Go to topJ01558 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ01558 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ01558 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 1558

BY: Senator SCARCELLA-SPANTON

 MOURNING the death of Margaret D. Williams,
 legendary vocalist and community leader

 WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through their selfless commitment and dedication, have served to better
the quality of life in our community and have had a measurable positive
impact on the lives of its residents; Margaret D. Williams was one such
individual; and

 WHEREAS, With profound sorrow and deep regret, this Legislative Body
records the passing of Margaret D. Williams, a beloved resident of Coney
Island, Brooklyn, New York, who died on January 23, 2026, at the age of
83; and

 WHEREAS, Margaret D. (Ross) Williams was born on July 19, 1942, in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Mary Ross and John Porter, and moved
to Brooklyn, New York, as a teenager, where she would establish deep
roots and a lifelong connection to the Coney Island community; and

 WHEREAS, While attending high school in Brooklyn, Margaret became
actively involved in music programs, nurturing a passion and talent that
would define her extraordinary life; and

 WHEREAS, As a young adult in the late 1950s, Margaret D. Williams
joined the renowned girl group The Cookies, alongside Earl-Jean McCrea
and Dorothy Jones, becoming an integral part of one of the most
influential vocal groups of the doo-wop and Brill Building eras; and

 WHEREAS, The Cookies achieved national and international success,
recording and performing songs written by legendary songwriters such as
Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and collaborating with iconic artists
including Neil Sedaka, Mel Torme, Little Eva, and others; and

 WHEREAS, Their hit recordings, including "Chains" and "Don't Say
Nothin'," reached the Billboard Top 40 charts in the 1960s, with
"Chains" later recorded by The Beatles on their 1963 debut album, Please
Please Me, further cementing the group's enduring influence on popular
music; and

 WHEREAS, In recognition of their significant contributions to
American music, The Cookies were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame in 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio; and

 WHEREAS, Margaret D. Williams continued to preserve and celebrate
The Cookies' legacy for decades thereafter, performing in concerts
throughout the United States, Europe, and Spain until her passing; and

 WHEREAS, After years of touring, Margaret D. Williams returned to
Coney Island, where she remained deeply engaged in her community,
continuing to sing professionally and dedicating her voice to sacred
music as a devoted member of the Coney Island Gospel Assembly Church on
Neptune Avenue, where she sang in the choir and volunteered her talents
for church events, activities, and funerals; and

 WHEREAS, Furthermore, she was a dedicated public servant, retiring
after 33 years of service with the New York City Department of Health,
Prison Health Services, and an active member of Union DC37, Chapter
1549; and

 WHEREAS, Margaret D. Williams was a cherished participant and
supporter of the Coney Island History Project, sharing her personal
history and experiences in a 2004 interview, and proudly cutting the
ribbon to open the Boardwalk Memory Booth in 2005; and

 WHEREAS, Margaret D. Williams was predeceased by her husband, Ronnie
Williams, and her mother, Mary Ross; she is survived by her loving
chi