William Reynolds Williams

William Reynolds Williams

May 15, 1946-June 28, 2025

Wm. Reynolds Williams, a lawyer, entrepreneur and civic leader, died Saturday, June 28, 2026, at the McLeod Hospice House in Florence, SC, after an illness.

Reynolds, or “Big R” as he was affectionally called by his family, was born in Mullins in 1946, the son of the late James Kendree and Janie Katherine Myrick Williams. He graduated from the Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN. Reynolds was an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia. Following his graduation from UVa in 1967, he served in the United States Army in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge.

After returning home from the war, Reynolds attended law school at the University of South Carolina. He worked his way through law school as a television producer and director at WBTW-TV in Florence. After graduating law school in 1973, he worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Congressman Ed Young and to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C. He returned to South Carolina and served as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1975 to 1977. He then joined the Willcox Law Firm in Florence in 1977 and in 1990 became its CEO, a position he held for three decades. Reynolds’s law practice was wide and varied, but no matter the legal arena, he was highly respected by the bench and bar for his profound intellect, creativity, and steadfast devotion to his client’s cause. The USC School of Law recognized him as a “Compleat Lawyer” for his 30+ years of exemplary service to the bar and the public. Reynolds was also a Faculty Seminar Participant at the 1991 U.S. Army War College, and a graduate of the Buckley School of Public Speaking where he was named best orator.

A fiercely proud American and South Carolinian, Reynolds devoted much of his adult life serving his fellow citizens and pursuing the betterment of Florence. He was a former Chairman of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, former President of the Florence Rotary Club, former Chairman of the Florence County Election Commission, and a former Vice-Chairman of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education. He served on the School Boards of All Saints and St. Anthony's, the Board of Florence County Progress, and presided over the Florence County and South Carolina Republican Party Conventions on multiple occasions. He served on the boards of IRIX Pharmaceuticals and Florence National Bank. Reynolds was appointed by Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman to serve on the South Carolina Retirement Investment Commission, a position he held until his passing; in 2008 the South Carolina Legislature issued a Concurrent Resolution expressing gratitude to Reynolds for his leadership of the Commission during its formative years. In 1990 Gov. David Beasley awarded Reynolds the Order of the Palmetto, the State’s highest civic honor, in recognition of his public service, civic responsibility, and friendship to the state of South Carolina. And in 2001, he was named the Business Person of the Year by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Reynolds’s counsel was sought by political and business leaders at all levels.

Reynolds even found time to pursue and share his love of the arts. He acted and directed at the Florence Little Theater, winning best actor awards on two occasions, and served as the President of the FLT. He also spearheaded Florence’s public arts presentations of Play Me I’m Yours (pianos) and the spectacular Moon Over Florence.

Reynolds traveled the world with his beloved wife and constant companion of 48 years, Mary Thomas Williams. Their most recent adventures took them from California to Florida via the Panama Canal; to Italy, Spain and other stops in the Mediterranean Sea; and to Scandinavia, with the country of Norway holding a special place in his heart. Though he delighted in travel, he loved nothing more than spending time at the beach with his family reading books (though in his later years he became partial to audio books), laughing and telling jokes, going to movies, and cheering on the Gamecocks and, begrudgingly, the Tar Heels in honor of Mary’s alma mater. He and Mary were world-class bridge players, and in their younger days they would go to distant cities – often with their sulking children in tow – to play in professional bridge tournaments. After a years-long hiatus, Reynolds recently reconnected with the game he loved and delighted in his weekly on-line bridge games with his dear friend, Tom Rutledge of Charleston, SC, including his last bridge game while in an ICU bed.

In addition to his wife, Reynolds is survived by three children, Reynolds Williams, Jr. (a/k/a “Little R”) of Wilmington, NC, Rob King (Leigh) of Florence, SC, and Ann King (Scott Deans) of Kasilof, AK; three grandchildren, Bethany Williams of St. Louis, MO, Blythe King of Santa Barbara, CA, and Elizabeth King of Spartanburg, SC; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; cherished brothers-in-law, Allen Thomas (Lynette) and Al Thomas (Georgia), of Wilson, NC; countless friends, confidants, and law partners; and devoted assistant and friend, Trudy Humphries. He was predeceased by his brothers, Peter Myrick Williams and James Kendree Williams. Reynolds will be sadly missed by all who knew him for his joie de vivre, quirky sense of humor, seemingly boundless patience, and sage counsel and advice.

A graveside service for family and friends will be held in Wilson, NC. There will be a celebration of Reynolds’s life held at a later date in Florence. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Macedonia Methodist Church, 402 N. Main St., Mullins, SC 29574, to the St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.