Betsy Stephens Williams

Spartanburg, SC- Betsy S. Williams, 89, wife of Harry Pinckney Williams, passed away Monday, July 14, 2014. Born March 4, 1925 in Spartanburg, SC, Betsy was a daughter of the late Harvey Orr Stephens and Sarah Elizabeth Goff Stephens. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon, aiding in the oversight of the construction of the Clark Building, filling in as Director of Christian Education, and most importantly, helping with the Laotian Refugee Program and sponsoring two families, with whom she remained in contact. Betsy helped found and served as Volunteer Coordinator at the Hannah Cohn Center, and worked there for ten years. She founded Book Barters in 1947, and in the 1950’s she was secretary for the newly founded Speech and Hearing Clinic. Betsy served on the Greens and Grounds Committee at the Spartanburg Country Club and as Chairman of the Women’s Golf Association at Champion Hills Country Club. She was also a board member of the Lake Summit Association. In addition to her husband, Betsy is survived by her children, Harriet Williams Wilkes (Mike), Leslie Williams Joyner (Larry), and Stephen Orr Williams (Lee Anne); her grandchildren, Meredith Johnson (Mitch), Christie McClain (Jamie), Lauren Vicars (Wes), Will and Alex Joyner, and Davidson and Harrison Williams; and two great grandchildren, Wesley and Crawford Vicars. A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 17th, 11:00am at the First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow at the Piedmont Club. A private family committal will be in Oakwood Cemetery. In remembrance of Betsy, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd – Ste L, Anderson, SC 29621; or to Oakwood Cemetery, 424 E. Kennedy Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.