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Yetunde Price

Yetunde Hawanya Tara Price (née Rasheed) was an American nurse and business owner best known as the eldest maternal half-sister of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Yetunde Hawanya Tara Price was an American nurse and business owner. She was the eldest maternal half-sister of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams and also served as their personal assistant. Price was killed in a 2003 drive-by shooting in Compton, California.

Early life and family

Yetunde Price was born in 1972, the eldest daughter of Oracene Price and Yusuf Rasheed. She was the older maternal half-sister of Venus and Serena Williams, and one of Oracene Price's five daughters.

Career

Price worked as a registered nurse and owned a beauty shop. She also served as a personal assistant to her half-sisters, Venus and Serena Williams.

Death

Price was fatally shot on September 14, 2003, in a drive-by shooting in Compton, California, at the age of 31. Robert Edward Maxfield later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in connection with her death. The case drew widespread media attention due to her connection to the Williams family.

Legacy

Price's death led to public discussion of gun violence and its impact on the Williams family. Later tributes and portrayals in film and media have referenced her life and relationship to her sisters.

Key facts

  • Price was the eldest of Oracene Price’s five daughters and one of Venus and Serena Williams’ maternal half-sisters.
  • She worked as a registered nurse, owned a beauty shop, and served as a personal assistant to her sisters.
  • She had three children: Jeffrey, Justus, and Jair.
  • Price was fatally shot on September 14, 2003, in Compton, California.
  • Robert Edward Maxfield later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in connection with her death.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Yetunde Price?
She was an American nurse, business owner, and the eldest maternal half-sister of Venus and Serena Williams.
What was Yetunde Price known for?
She was known for her family connection to the Williams sisters and for working as their personal assistant.
How did Yetunde Price die?
She was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Compton, California, in 2003.
How old was Yetunde Price when she died?
She was 31 years old.
Did Yetunde Price have children?
Yes. Reports state that she had three children.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Yetunde_Price
    Supports: Birth and death dates, family relationship to Venus and Serena Williams, and general circumstances of her death.
  2. Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-15-me-williams15-story.html
    Supports: Her death in Compton, California, age, and circumstances of the shooting.
  3. Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-apr-07-me-sentence7-story.html
    Supports: Her occupation, children, and the later court case involving Robert Edward Maxfield.
  4. People — https://people.com/serena-venus-williams-oldest-sister-yetunde-price-death-8789931
    Supports: Public overview of her death and family relationship.