Dr. Eddie Meek Williams III

1949 - 2021

Dr. Eddie Meek Williams, III
September 1, 1949 - August 17, 2021
Columbia, South Carolina - Dr. Eddie Meek Williams, III, was born September 1, 1949, in Columbia to his parents, Eddie Meek Williams, Jr, and Rosa Cashion Williams. He died peacefully in his home surrounded by family on August 17th, 2021. Eddie had a love for music, history and always loved learning new things. Eddie grew up on Lake Murray and attended Irmo High School, "when it was a country school," he would say. Eddie was the valedictorian of the class of '67. A core group of these '67 graduates still meet for lunch monthly and Eddie enjoyed sharing stories with them. Eddie attended Duke University and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He went on to medical school at Duke and completed his internship and residency at the Duke Hospital.
Prior to beginning his professional career in Columbia, Dr. Williams and his wife, Kathie, served as medical missionaries within the Medical Benevolence Foundation in Zaire (the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Dr. Williams began his practice of Pulmonary and Critical Care in the early 1980s. He developed his practice with a very devoted group of nurses, respiratory therapists (RT), and office staff that worked with him for many years. Dr. Williams also practiced internal medicine with the Columbia Medical Group. Dr. Williams and his wife, Kathie, raised three very talented and lovely daughters. He was an active member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and Bethel Bible study teacher. He led mission trips to Brazil and participated in mission efforts in Sudan.
Once he established his practice in Columbia, his comprehensive care of his patients would begin early in the morning and finish very late in the evening. He was loved by colleagues, nurses, RTs, and other hospital staff for his diligent and passionate care. Dr. Williams met his current wife, Vickie, in the ICU. They were married in 2011 and have shared a mutual love of critical care, traveling abroad with close friends, and spending time together in their lake house. Over the last few years, Dr. Williams struggled with mobility issues related to back problems and battled two different cancers, but continued to care for his patients as long as he could. He was highly respected by his colleagues for his attention to detail and was loved by his patients because of his compassionate bedside manner. Dr. Williams and his wife, Vickie, have attended Union United Methodist Church in Irmo for the last 11 years. They have many friends there but have enjoyed their Living Faith Sunday School class the most.
Dr. Williams was preceded in death by his father, Eddie M. Williams, Jr. He is survived by his loving wife, Vickie Bearden Williams, mother Rosa Williams, sisters Jane (Terry) Wood, Laura Cowan, and brother, John (Debbie) Williams, his children Sarah (Andrew) Lin, Rebecca (Nate) Herring, Dr. Elizabeth (Vaughn) Braxton, Jared Horton and Jamie Horton. He is also survived by his precious ray of sunshine, Eleanor Herring, his granddaughter, and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial service for Dr. Eddie Meek Williams, III, 71, of Columbia, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 20, 2021, at Union United Methodist Church, 7582 Woodrow Street, Irmo, SC 29063. Visitation will follow in the Narthex of the church.
Memorials may be made to the Medical Benevolence Foundation, 9555 W. Sam Houston Pkwy, Suite 170, Houston, TX 77099.