(CNN) -- Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the biracial woman who revealed nine years ago she was the illegitimate daughter of former segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond, died Monday, her family's spokesman said. She was 87. 

Washington-Williams kept her father's identity secret until six months after Thurmond, a segregationist leader for decades, died in June 2003 at age 100. 

"I never wanted to do anything to harm him or cause detriment to his life or to the lives of those around him," Washington-Williams said at a 2003 news conference, six months after her father died at the age of 100. 

She died at her Columbia, South Carolina, home of natural causes Monday morning, according to Frank Wheaton. 

Thurmond ran for president in 1948 on the ticket of the States' Rights Democratic Party, or Dixiecrats, a breakaway faction of Southern Democrats who believed strongly in racial segregation and were opposed to their party's civil rights program. Thurmond joined the Republican Party in the 1960s and ultimately turned away from his segregationist past. 

Martin: GOP needs to listen to blacks 

"My father did a lot of things to help other people, even though his public stance appeared opposite," Washington-Williams said. "I was sensitive about his well-being and career and his family here in South Carolina." 

Washington-Williams said she went public only at the urging of her children, but rumors had persisted for years. 

An attorney for the former senator's family confirmed in 2003 that Thurmond fathered a child with a teenage black housekeeper in 1925. Her mother, Carrie Butler, worked as a maid at the Thurmond family home in Edgefield, South Carolina. 
Who was the famous father in this story?
How old was he when he died?
Who was his daughter?
Was she an illegitimate child?
Was she bi-racial?
What was Thurmond's position on segregation?
All of his life?
When did he run for president?
What was his party then?
What party did he join in the 60's?
What was Washington-
What was Washington-Williams' mother's name?
Where did she work?
Was the story of Washington-Williams confirmed?
By whom?
Strom Thurmond,
Strom Thurmond,
100
Thurmond, a segregationist leader for decades, died in June 2003 at age 100. 
Essie Mae Washington-Williams
Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the biracial woman
yes
Thurmond fathered a child with a teenage black housekeeper 
yes
- Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the biracial woman 
a segregationist leader
Thurmond, a segregationist leader 
. no
. Thurmond joined the Republican Party in the 1960s and ultimately turned away from his segregationist past. 
1948
Thurmond ran for president in 1948 on the ticket of the States' Rights Democratic Party, or Dixiecrats, a breakaway faction of Southern Democrat
Democratic Party,
Democratic Party, 
Republican Party
Thurmond joined the Republican Party in the 1960s and ultimately turned away from his segregationist past. 
unknown
unknown
Carrie Butler
 Her mother, Carrie Butler, worked as a maid at the Thurmond family home in Edgefield
maid at the Thurmond family home
Her mother, Carrie Butler, worked as a maid at the Thurmond family home in Edgefield, South Carolina.
yes, after his death
Washington-Williams kept her father's identity secret until six months after Thurmond, a segregationist leader for decades, died in June 2003 at age 100.
an attorney in 2003
An attorney for the former senator's family confirmed in 2003 that Thurmond fathered a child with a teenage black housekeeper in 1925