Avis de décès de Rev. -Clarence-D. Williams - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

The Rev. Clarence D. "Red" Williams COLUMBIA, SC-- After 57 years of active ministry throughout South Carolina, the Rev. Clarence D. "Red" Williams of Irmo died early morning Tuesday, September 21, 2010. He was born December 9, 1925, in Summerville, to S.C. United Methodist minister Luther D.B. Williams and his wife, Elizabeth Joyner Williams. He was predeceased by his wife, Belva Morse Williams; his sister, Mary Wynn Williams of California; and his brother, David J. Williams of Myrtle Beach. Surviving are his son, Danny Williams of Columbia; daughter, Sherry and her husband, Hal Fair, of Wagener; daughter, Dawn and her husband, Wesley Gilliland, of Waco, TX; daughter, Wendi and her husband, Timothy Mundy, of Camp Lejeune, NC; seven grandchildren, Rainey (Brandon) Chadwell, Banks (Mardi) Fair, Joseph and Adam Gilliland, and Ashley, Sloan, and David Mundy. Like his father, Red was a United Methodist minister in the S.C. Annual Conference. He served seven local churches including Wayne U.M.C., Georgetown; St. John U.M.C., Sumter; Mauldin U.M.C.; Bethany U.M.C., Summerville; John Wesley U.M.C., Charleston; Trinity U.M.C., Spartanburg; and Union U.M.C., Irmo. He retired from the S.C. Annual Conference in 1993 and became the Minister of Visitation at Trenholm Road U.M.C., Columbia, where he served the next 17 years. Without his parents' knowledge, he applied to Wofford College where he lettered in football. While there, another calling came and he left to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II as a radio operator and tail gunner on a B-17 over the Pacific. Post-war he returned to North Carolina and graduated from Davidson College and Duke Divinity School. With the onset of the Korean conflict, he once again was pulled into a war effort. This time, however, he served as a chaplain. After the war, he married his college sweetheart and they were stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, until he was honorably discharged. He and Belva moved to Georgetown, SC, where he assumed his first pastoral appointment. What is unique is his continued effort (educational programming, etc.) as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. Red graduated The Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, ultimately attained the rank of Colonel and, in 1980, was awarded The Legion of Merit Medal and The Meritorious Service Medal. As is true with most beloved ministers, Red Williams' pastoral efforts were endless and many, many individuals have been blessed. He was a true genius, avid reader, competitive board gamer, steadfast friend, and devoted husband, father and grandfather. Red Williams will be most remembered as a compassionate Christian Crusader and for his words, "Let's have prayer together...amen, amen and amen." A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 2, 2010, at Union United Methodist Church in Irmo. Memorials may be made to Union United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 705, Irmo, SC 29063; Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, 3401 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204; or The South Carolina United Ministerial Education Fund, P.O. Box 3787, Columbia, SC 29230.