Stephen P. Williams

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stephen P. Williams, aged 69, on February 8, 2026. Born on April 13, 1956, in Greenville, South Carolina, Steve was a son of the late James and Frances Williams.

Stephen P. Williams was a Greenville native and a graduate of J.L. Mann High School. He was a cum laude graduate of Wofford College where he was a Benjamin Wofford scholar and then received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina's School of Law.

In 2012, Steve served on the board of New Horizon Family Health Services and, in 2014, transitioned to staff as their Chief Operating Officer, a position in which he would have celebrated 12 years this year. Before that, as an attorney, Stephen practiced in a small general practice and represented criminal defendants on death row before both the South Carolina and United States Supreme Court. He also represented numerous not-for-profit charities and trade associations, had been a lobbyist for the South Carolina Medical Association, and practiced in a large law firm representing the Greenville Health System with a special interest in bioethics, human research, and end-of-life issues including care of the critically ill patient. Over the last thirty years, he was a speaker at various medical conferences, hospital medical staff meetings, hospital association meetings, nurse meetings, revenue cycle management meetings, and health information meetings on a variety of medicolegal and business issues.

In addition, Stephen served on the board of the Litigation Center of the American Medical Association, on the Health Committee of The United Way of Greenville and as a member of the board of trustees of the South Carolina Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Greenville's Child, and the Upstate Pediatric AIDS coalition. He served on the board of LifePoint, the South Carolina Organ Procurement Agency, the South Carolina Diabetes Initiative, and the EURO Auto Festival. Stephen was an adjunct faculty member of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville and was most recently teaching healthcare law, business law, and medical ethics in both the undergraduate and graduate programs in healthcare administration at Converse University.

During his leisure time, Steve was happiest surrounded by music, eating good food, spending time with friends and family, and telling jokes or stories from his past. He was a walking encyclopedia of classic rock information. Anything you wanted to know about the Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Steely Dan, or bands of that era, Steve could tell you. If he wasn't sitting listening to his massive collection of favorite songs, he was playing his guitar or dabbling with bass, drums, other percussion instruments, or keyboard. Often, he was found busking on the streets of Greenville and at various indoor venues with the Accidental String Band. When Stephen didn't have a guitar or drum stick in his hand, he was likely on the road behind the wheel of his vintage Porsche Carrera.

Steve's legacy will be cherished by his beloved brother, Terry V. Williams; niece, Kayla Richards and her husband Steven; great-niece, Chandler Richards; girlfriend, Gabrielle Marsoun; daughter, Megan Williams; many cousins and countless friends including his closest, Kristy Maher, Mimi Webb, Charlie Duncan, Douglas Dorman, Tom Freeman, and Chris King.

A memorial service honoring Steve's life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2026 at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown, 639 N. Main St., Greenville, SC 29601. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 12:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. prior to the service.

Stephen P. Williams will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Friends who wish to show support may send a memorial donation to Wofford College 429 N. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303. Office of Philanthropy in Honor of Stephen P. Williams to the Frank and Madeline Logan Scholarship Fund.

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Steve with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".