Who Is Arleata Williams, Otis Williams' Ex-wife?

Publish date: 2024-05-01

Arleata William is Otis Williams’ ex-wife whom he was married to for 14 years before their divorce in 1997. Though she became popular through her marriage to the American singer and surviving member of the original Temptations, she managed to keep her life private away from the public.

Following their divorce, Arleata remained a proud mother to her only child, Elan Carter, a former Playboy model. Let’s take a close look at her life.

Personal Profile

The Early Life and Background of Arleata Williams

She was born Arleata Shortridge on January 19 sometime in mid-1940 in Newark, New Jersey to parents who are unidentified. We gathered that she has a link to the American civil rights movement through her maternal uncle, Dr. W. E. Shortridge, one of the frontline workers at the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights.

Though she now goes by Arleata ‘Goldie’ Shortridge, a 1964 yearbook of Weequahic High School lists a similar person to her as Arleata Leslie Shortridge. Based on this, we may not be wrong to assume that she graduated from the same school. Per the same source, Arleata had no post-high school education plans instead she wanted to own a nightclub.

What Does She Do for a Living?

Considering Arleata’s need for privacy and away from the spotlight, this detail remains elusive. Yet from the snippets we garnered from her social media updates, Arleata may have worked as a bunny for Playboy at an earlier point in her life. She made this known in an October 2017 Instagram update to mourn the death of Playboy founder Hugh Heffner.

Away from this, she has also indicated a business nack through her handmade items. While she has made an advert for handmade lace hats on her Instagram page, this seems to be more of a hobby than a full-blown business as she has not shown a great deal of this side of her life.

She was Married to Otis Williams for 14 Years

Arleta who is also referred to as Goldie was married to Otis Williams Jr., the American singer and surviving member of the original Temptations for 14 years. According to their relationship timeline, the pair met in the 80s and started dating shortly after.

They eventually tied the knot in 1983, ten years after Otis’s second marriage with Ann Cain failed. Howbeit, her marriage with the singer cum songwriter was a third for him, it is her first publicized relationship. Nonetheless, there are indications that she was in another relationship. It was through this said relationship that she welcomed her only child, a daughter, Elan Carter, who was featured as a playmate for June 1994.

Notably, she and Otis did not welcome any child during their marriage, but the singer is said to have adopted her daughter.

During her marriage, Arleata Williams became quite popular as it coincided with the Temptations’ success. To give credence to the band’s success, it won 4 Grammys among many other recognitions. Though Arleata and Otis were one of music’s most admired pair, their marriage soon came crashing down in 1997.

The Truth About Her Divorce from Williams

Like most admired celebrity marriages that end in divorce, many were curious to know what really happened. As it is, the pair never revealed what truly happened but we may not be wrong to state it was due to irreconcilable differences despite speculations that Otis may have cheated on her.

Where is Arleata Williams Now?

According to her Facebook profile, Arleata lives in Los Angeles, California. As it is, she is alive and very active. Moreso, Arleata loves to have a good time with her girlfriends whom she refers to as ‘Snoop girls’, and spending time with her family. By family, we mean her daughter, Elan, her two children, and her son-in-law.

The bond between them is so strong that she celebrates milestones in their lives in ravishing words. Understandably, her grandson, Trace Pierce, a singer, and actor is one of the most featured people on her social media.

Away from this, there are no indications that she remarried following her divorce from Otis Williams Jr.