Harry Pinkney Williams, Jr.

Harry Pinkney Williams, Jr. (Col. U.S. Army, ret.) passed away Friday, January 13, 2023. He was born November 21, 1920 in White Stone, S.C., to the late Harry P. “Pop” Williams, Sr. and Beulah West Williams and was predeceased by his brother, Herbert Lucien Williams.

Harry was married to Betsy Stephens Williams for sixty-five happy years until her death in 2014.

He is survived by his children, Harriet Williams Wilkes (Mike), Leslie Williams Joyner (Larry), and Stephen Orr Williams (Lee Anne); and his grandchildren, Meredith Wilkes Johnson (Mitch), Christie Wilkes McClain (Jamie), Lauren Joyner Vicars (Wes), William Joyner, Alex Joyner (Robyn), Davidson Williams (Hayley), Harrison Williams (Lauren); 7 great grandchildren; and his very special friend, Rose Bailey.

Harry graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1938 and Wofford College in 1942. After graduation, Harry entered the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant and rose to the rank of Captain during War World II. He graduated from the Officers Advanced Infantry Course, Ft. Bennington, Ga. and the Command and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, Ks. He completed his active duty in 1946 as a Lt. Colonel, and then served in the U. S. Army Reserve until 1951 and the S.C. National Guard until 1966, retiring as a Colonel.

Harry co-founded CWS Insurance Agency. He served as President of the local insurance association and on insurance company advisory boards before he retired in 1990.

Harry was a member of First Presbyterian Church, serving as Chairman of the Board of Deacons and as an Elder. Harry served on the Boards of the Visiting Nurse Association, Sertoma Club, YMCA, Lake Summit Foundation, the Country Club of Spartanburg, and Champion Hills.

Harry’s love for and devotion to Wofford College was well known, including faithful attendance at Wofford basketball and football games. At Wofford, he lettered in football, basketball, and tennis. In 1946 he helped form The Eleven Club, predecessor to the Terrier Club. Harry established an endowed athletic scholarship to continue to support Wofford’s athletes. He was the first Distinguished Service Award Inductee to the Wofford College Athletic Hall of Fame, and was a 2011 Southern Conference Distinguished Service Award recipient.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 21, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow.

A private family committal will be held at Oakwood Cemetery.

In remembrance of Harry, memorials may be made to The Harry P. Williams, ‘42, Endowed Scholarship Fund, Wofford College, 429 N. Church St. Spartanburg, S.C. 29303-3663; Boys’ and Girls’ Club of the Upstate, P.O. Box 2794, Spartanburg, S. C. 29304; or First Presbyterian Church, Mission Funds, 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, 29302.