Now, let me tell ya, Oracene Price, she’s a woman you can’t forget. Born on April 3, 1952, she came from a place where folks work hard and don’t give up easy. Now, she’s best known for being the mother and coach of them famous tennis players, Venus and Serena Williams. You mighta heard of ’em, right? They’re some of the best tennis players ever. And I reckon they wouldn’t be where they are without their mama, Oracene, teachin’ ’em all the way.
Oracene, well, she wasn’t just sittin’ back while them girls were playin’. Oh no. She got right in there, coaching ‘em, making sure they got all the right skills to make it in the world of tennis. It ain’t no easy thing, y’know, gettin’ two daughters to be as famous as Venus and Serena. But Oracene, she had a plan and she stuck with it. She worked with ‘em day and night, always pushin’ ‘em to be their best. Even when things got tough, Oracene stayed strong.
And you know what? A lot of folks might not realize just how important she was in them girls’ careers. A lotta people just look at Venus and Serena, but it was Oracene who laid the foundation. She worked alongside Richard Williams, her ex-husband, who might get some of the credit, but don’t forget, it was Oracene who was there, making sure everything was right, teaching her daughters the ropes.
Now, Oracene didn’t have the easiest life. She was married to Richard Williams for a good long while—22 years, to be exact. But they didn’t stay together forever, and in 2002 they split up. Even after that, she kept her focus on her girls, making sure they had the support they needed. You see, it ain’t just about teachin’ them how to swing a racket, it’s about life. And Oracene, well, she made sure they had that, too.
It wasn’t always sunshine and roses, though. In 2003, tragedy struck when her daughter Yetunde Price was killed in a drive-by shooting. Now, that’s a pain no parent should have to go through, but Oracene, she kept going. She stayed strong for her family, for her daughters, who needed her more than ever. Even through all that heartache, she managed to keep her head up and stay focused on what was most important: her girls’ future.
Now, I reckon most folks don’t give Oracene enough credit. They see Venus and Serena, and they think it’s all about them. But you best believe that Oracene was there from the start, right beside ‘em, makin’ sure they had what they needed. Whether it was in the court, or at home, she was there. Not a lotta people talk about that, but they should. She was their rock, and she deserves that recognition.
Another thing about Oracene is she’s humble. Don’t go thinkin’ she’s one to brag about her accomplishments, ‘cause she ain’t. But when you hear people talk about her, you’ll find out she was just as much a part of the success as anyone. Aunjanue Ellis, the actress who played her in the movie “King Richard”, she did a fine job showin’ folks just how much Oracene meant to the Williams family. Oracene may not always come to mind first, but don’t forget, she’s a big part of why them girls are where they are today.
Oracene’s a woman who worked hard, who loved her family, and who never gave up. She might not be out there on the tennis court herself, but trust me, she made sure Venus and Serena had every chance to succeed. And that’s somethin’ worth talkin’ about, don’t you think?
Tags：[Oracene Price, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Tennis Coach, Richard Williams, King Richard, Sports Family, Motherhood, Tennis Legends, Tennis Coaching, Inspirational Stories]
