Rosemary Williams

Rosemary Taylor Williams, 88, passed away peacefully at her home on October 25, 2026. Born July 17, 1938, in Mobile, Alabama, she was the oldest of five children of Juanita Lane Taylor and James Lawrence Taylor.

Raised in Lucedale, Mississippi, Rosemary graduated from George County High School and earned a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from the University of Mississippi in 1960. She came to Corinth that January to practice teach at Corinth High School, a decision that would shape the rest of her life.

After meeting H. L. "Sandy" Williams, Jr. at Sunday School, he invited her to lunch and a movie. Their romance was aided by dear friend John C. Stanley III, who provided Rosemary a summer job so she could remain in Corinth. Less than five months later, Rosemary and Sandy married, beginning a 66-year partnership.

Rosemary devoted her life to family, community, historic preservation, conservation, and the arts, becoming one of Corinth's most influential civic leaders.

In 1976, she compiled Cross City Chronicle: A Pictorial History of Architecture in Corinth and Alcorn County, published by the Junior Auxiliary of Corinth, documenting the area's architectural heritage. In 1984, the Junior Auxiliary named her Corinth's Outstanding Citizen. She co-founded the Corinth Symphony Orchestra in 1990, an organization now celebrating its 36th season.

Beginning in 1992, Rosemary served 20 years on the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, becoming its first vice president in 2008.

Her defining contributions came through historic preservation. As chair of the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission beginning in 1993, she spearheaded a grassroots effort to preserve Corinth's nationally significant Civil War history. Through persistent advocacy at local, state, and national levels, she helped establish and fund the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center and preserve more than 20 historic sites associated with the Siege and Battle of Corinth.

Her efforts also helped protect the Corinth Contraband Camp, the historic Coliseum Civic Center, the Verandah-Curlee House, and other treasured landmarks. Her combination of gracious Southern gentility and extraordinary tenacity earned her the affectionate nickname "Velvet Hammer."

Rosemary's preservation work took her throughout Mississippi and to Washington, D.C., where she built partnerships among local, state, and federal organizations.

Her accomplishments received significant recognition. In 2006, the Mississippi Heritage Trust named her Preservationist of the Year. In 2008, she represented Corinth and Alcorn County at the White House, accepting the Preserve America Presidential Award from First Lady Laura Bush for the community's outstanding heritage preservation and tourism initiatives.

In 2009, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees commended her as the leading force behind one of Mississippi's most successful grassroots preservation efforts. In 2015, the Mississippi Historical Society presented her with the prestigious Dunbar Rowland Award for lifelong contributions to preserving, studying, and interpreting Mississippi history.

Beyond these honors, Rosemary served on the board of the Civil War Trust and devoted countless hours to organizations supporting history, preservation, the arts, and civic life. She was a longtime member of the Fin de Siècle Club, Garden Club, Junior Auxiliary of Corinth, and First Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for many years.

For Rosemary, preservation was never simply about saving buildings. It meant honoring those who came before, strengthening the community she loved, and ensuring its history endured for future generations.

Above all, Rosemary cherished her family. She and Sandy built a life together in Corinth, raising two children and welcoming six grandsons. A consummate hostess, she delighted in creating memorable gatherings and special occasions. She and Sandy traveled extensively, including an unforgettable trip around the world in three weeks. In recent years, her beloved goldendoodle, Chrissy, was her constant companion.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents, Juanita Lane Taylor and James Lawrence Taylor, and her brother, James Lawrence Taylor, Jr. (Jelna).

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, H. L. "Sandy" Williams, Jr.; daughter, Virginia Lane Williams Yoder (Bill) of Tullahoma, Tennessee; son, Harry Lee Williams III (Tara) of Corinth; and six grandsons: Cooper Wilson Yoder, Spencer Ramsey Yoder, Harry Claiborne Williams, Andrew Weaver Williams, Matthew Sanders Williams, and Reid Warriner Williams.

She is also survived by her siblings, Sherry Lane Carpenter (Wayne O.) of Oxford, Mississippi; Joe Howard Taylor (Belinda) of Lucedale, Mississippi; and Harold Gregory Taylor (Becky) of Oxford, Mississippi; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rosemary's memory to the Corinth Area Arts Council for the benefit of the Corinth Coliseum (P.O. Box 732, Corinth, MS 38835); the Corinth Symphony Orchestra (P.O. Box 403, Corinth, MS 38835); or the Verandah-Curlee House (P.O. Box 45, Corinth, MS 38835).

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 29, at 3:00 p.m. at First Methodist Church, 3161 E. Shiloh Road, Corinth, Mississippi. Visitation will begin at noon and continue until the service, followed by private interment at Henry Cemetery.