Though Williams was occupied with the responsibilities of a wife and mother, this did not lessen her interest in literary pursuits. For her own amusement and that of a choice coterie of literary friends whom she frequently hosted, she became accustomed to weave together legends of Louisiana, both in prose and verse, which soon established her reputation in literary circles. She did not, however, fancy the plaudits of the world. For years, she refused to appear in print, but when at length, a few of her articles found their way into literary journals, she was acknowledged as a poet and a teacher. Williams contributed to periodical literature, including, for years, to the New Orleans
Sunday Times. Her poetry was admired, notably the verses entitled
The Serfs of Chateney. Williams was translator of French, German, and Spanish literature. She published a translation from German, of
Adelbert von Chamisso's
“Man without a Shadow". In 1874, it was reported that Williams was working on a translation of Heine's poems from German, a new rendering of
Goethe into English verse, and a collection of legends illustrating the history of Old Louisiana. She was the author of
Tales and Legends of Louisiana, a
lyrical poem. ==Personal life==