Obituary: Beth Wray Harris Williams
Beth Wray Harris Williams, age 85, of Columbia, SC, passed away Saturday May 11, 2024.
Her funeral service will be conducted Saturday May 18, at 2pm in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel located at 702 North Queen Street, Kinston, NC. Rev. Doug Stokes of Gordon Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will officiate. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be private.
Beth was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 20, 1939, to Ray James Harris and Elsie Abernathy Harris. Beth grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and graduated from Chapel Hill High School as a member of the National Honor Society. She received a college scholarship from the Chapel Hill Rotary Club and graduate from the University of North Carolina with a BS in Business Administration, majoring in accounting. Beth worked as a computer programmer in business and accounting applications.
On June 28, 2000, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was in remission until lung cancer was found again on May 5, 2024. She was a founding member of North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership, now known as Lung Cancer Initiative. The goal is to support lung cancer research and education. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer and receives less money for research than other major cancers. Beth was proud of her volunteer work with this organization.
Beth enjoyed spending time with family, friends and her feline companion, Marmalade.
She is survived by her son Jeffrey Williams of Wilmington, NC (Sherry), daughter Karen Williams Brown of Columbia, SC (Michael). She is also survived by granddaughters Loren Williams (Charlotte, NC) and Anna Brown (Columbia, SC).
In addition to her parents, Beth is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, David Michael Williams, who was a native of Kinston, NC where he was known as Mickey, and their infant daughter Sarah Beth.
Beth always wanted to see more lung cancer survivors and requested that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Lung Cancer Initiative, 5171 Glennwood Ave, Suite 401, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Arrangements made by Edwards Funeral Home & Cremations. Online condolences may be expressed at www.edwardsfhc.com.
