William A. Feilds ( between c. 1846 and 1852 &ndash; September 9 , 1898 ) 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 . He was also elected a member of the Shelby County county court ( a legislative body ) , and a justice of the peace . According to researchers on the American documentary series '' Who Do You Think You Are ? '' ( 2011 ) , he is the paternal great-great-grandfather of actress , singer , and Miss America 1984 , Vanessa Williams and of actor Chris Williams and the maternal great-great-great-grandfather of Jillian Hervey
Miss America 1984
Miss America 1984
William A. Feilds