Maude E. Craig Sampson Williams (February 1880 – March 13, 1958) was an American suffragist, teacher, civil rights leader, and community activist in El Paso, Texas.

In early 1918, the African American woman's club under the leadership of Williams endorsed the unsuccessful candidacy of white suffrage leader Belle Critchett for school trustee and provided a donation to her campaign.

On June 18, 1918, Williams read a paper on the issue of woman suffrage at the annual Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park in El Paso.

[8] In response to the new law, El Paso women began mobilizing to register to vote in the July Democratic primary election.

[10] That evening, the African American community met at the Black Masonic temple located on South Virginia Street and formed the El Paso Negro Woman's Civic and Equal Franchise League with Williams elected as president.

Local newspapers noted that several of the African American women had sons in the army, some of whom were serving in France during the First World War.

[12] In June 1918, Williams wrote a letter to Maud Wood Park of the NAWSA requesting membership in the national organization.

Critchett also related that a few weeks before she had suggested the names of three or four African American women to the Democratic Party chairman in El Paso to serve as clerks for the July primary election.

Critchett reported that the party chairman was "indignant" at the suggestion, forcing her to tell Williams that African American women would not be allowed as election clerks.

[13] On July 17, 1918, Carrie Chapman Catt, the president of NAWSA, wrote to Edith Hinkle League, the Corresponding Secretary of TESA.

Catt suggested that the League write to Williams and request that the African-American women in El Paso not "embarrass" the Texas Equal Suffrage Association by asking for membership.

[13] Despite being denied membership in TESA and NAWSA, Williams and the El Paso Negro Woman's Civic and Equal Franchise League continued their suffrage work.

Just two days after the league was formed, Black suffragists met to discuss registration for the July 27, 1918, Democratic primary, which was the first time that women in Texas were able to vote.

[15] On June 21, the El Paso Negro Woman's Civic and Equal Franchise League held a non-partisan political meeting and registration rally at the Black Masonic temple.

[17] On July 25, 1918, two days before the primary election, the Colored Women's Progressive Club of El Paso endorsed the candidates on the regular county Democratic ticket, including Claude Hudspeth for U.S. Representative.

[4] The club was organized with the purpose "to promote happiness, to foster a friendly feeling among the women of our city – socially, intellectually, morally and civically, and to aid worthy projects.

[21] The Phyllis Wheatley Club also organized and conducted the city's parade and picnic for returning African-American men who had served in the war.

[22] In May 1919, Williams, representing the Phyllis Wheatley Club, petitioned the El Paso city council for a tennis court for African-American children.

Semple and council members that the Phyllis Wheatley Club had established a playground center and asked that the city install a concrete tennis court.

[2] In September 1954, only months after the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, Williams' committee attempted to desegregate Texas Western College.

The decision was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Thomason, the same candidate for office that Williams had served as precinct campaign organizer in 1920.

[27] The efforts of White, Marshall, Williams and the El Paso NAACP effectively desegregated higher education for the rest of the state as all other public institutions came into compliance with the ruling.