On Sunday, Feb. 8, Wendy Williams’ niece Alex Finnie shared the devastating news of the death of Wendy’s dad, Thomas Williams. He was 94 years old.
Alex shared a heartfelt tribute to Wendy’s dad on Instagram with a video montage of family photos throughout the years and a caption that said, “I’ll be loving you always. It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share – after 94 years of extraordinary love, strength, brilliance, and wisdom, my grandfather Thomas D. Williams has passed.”
Dad of Wendy Williams Remembered as a ‘Man of Great Intellect’
Alex continued, “I know he is in heaven with Nana, watching over our family and continuing to guide us as he always has. My grandfather was truly a man of great intellect – an author, educator and keeper of historical facts. Papa poured into both family and community. I miss him tremendously. I’m a little lost for words right now, but I love you endlessly Papa. Give Nana a kiss for me.”
Wendy herself has not publicly expressed her grief for her father; however, her yearning to be by his side amid her ongoing guardianship was evident. In January 2025, Wendy opened up in an emotional interview with “The Breakfast Club” morning show. During which, she said she likely wouldn’t be able to celebrate her dad’s 94th birthday that year — the last one before his death — because of the person controlling her legally binding guardianship.
“My dad is going to be 94 next month. I don’t know if I’m able to fly to Miami to say happy birthday to my dad,” Wendy shared, adding that the “person who is holding me hostage” is the reason why she didn’t think she’d be able to travel to visit him.
“Listen, I don’t know if she’s going to let me see my dad for his birthday,” the former talk show host added. “He’s going to be 94.” The “she” Wendy referred to is Sabrina Morrissey, who has been overseeing her finances and health since 2022, when her guardianship began, People reported.
Wendy continued, “I’m exhausted thinking about what if I can’t see my dad for his birthday. At 94, the day after that is not promised. It’s not promised.”
Wendy Williams to Soon be Released From Guardianship
Alex joined her aunt for “The Breakfast Club” interview, adding her two cents. “She wants to be here for his birthday, and the fact that they’re playing games — I’m sorry, that is just absolutely sickening,” Alex said.
Court documents obtained by People detail how Wendy was initially put under a court-ordered guardianship after Wells Fargo froze her accounts and petitioned a judge to do so when her former financial adviser, Lori Schiller, claimed that the 61-year-old was of “unsound mind.”
Around October 2025, two years after she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, Wendy was seen by a neurologist in NYC, who conducted a series of tests and determined that she did not actually have the brain disease, TMZ reported.
With her new health findings, Wendy’s guardianship is supposed to be coming to an end after she secured the support of powerhouse lawyer Joe Tacopina, who plans to fight tooth and nail to make her a free woman again, TMZ reported.
