William A. Feilds was an African-American schoolteacher and principal, born a slave, who served one term as a Republican legislator in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1885 to 1886.
Career
According to researchers on the American documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? (2011), he is the maternal great-great-grandfather of actress, singer, and Mission America 1984, Vanessa L. Williams and of actor Chris Williams and the maternal great-great-great-grandfather of Jillian Hervey.
Membership
He was also elected a member of the Shelby County county court (a legislative body), and a justice of the peace.
