After a long search, Williams finally found Marcus Hayes [a descendant of Nancy Green, the real Aunt Jemima].
"When I found out about it, to be honest, I was shocked, and excited at the same time. Living in the United States, some African Americans, as you may know, it is hard for them to go that far back, to get who they're connected to," Hayes said.
Hayes remembers hearing stories of Green's pancakes.
"It was so good that the boys would now tell everyone ... the milling company heard about it ... they came and sought her out," Hayes said.
And just like that Aunt Jemima was born. It made its debut at the World’s fair in Chicago in 1893.
As legend tells it, Green sold 50,000 boxes of the now famous pancake mix.
"She was the trusted face. Back then, you know, anybody who would look at an African American woman cooking, they knew that they can trust her cooking, that she could cook,” Hayes said.
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The sudden news in the midst of this country’s "racial reckoning" shocked both families.
MORE: Aunt Jemima brand retired by Quaker due to racial stereotype
“I was, I was taken aback. I was really shocked. I knew people didn't realize that those were real people and, you know, to phase them out, would kind of erase their history,” Harris said.
Hayes worries about Green’s legacy when the brand goes away.
‘She's just not a character ... I really want her legacy to be told. That this is a real person. And this was her recipe. And she fed the world from her flapjacks,” he said.
While some people might view the image of Aunt Jemima as antiquated or insensitive, Williams does not see it that way.
"No time ever have I heard anyone in my community say that this image was one that was derogatory. So I don't know where that sentiment is coming from," she said.