Gloria Williams

She was born in Princeton, Indiana on February 20, 1932 to Nadine and Robert Hedge. She graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1950, and married William Richard (Buddy) Williams in October of that year. They were married for 52 years and had four children.

Gloria worked in the weather station at Donaldson Air Force Base and as a legal secretary for Attorneys Earle, Bozeman & Grayson. She was awarded the Degree of Exemplar of Beta Sigma Phi in 1962 and went on to be elected president of Chapter Xi Theta.

She loved flowers and birds, and in her younger days, tennis, and walking on the beach at Fripp Island with Buddy. Gloria was a member of the University Park Garden Club, where she served many terms as president. In addition, she was on the Greenville Garden Council and volunteered as a docent at the Kilgore-Lewis House.

Gloria is survived by her children, Gloria Lynn Denton (Greg) of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Elissa W. Miller (Tom) of Simpsonville, South Carolina, and William Richard Williams, Jr. (Chris) of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She was known as MEMA to her grandchildren, Tara Denton Holwegner (Jake) of Charleston, South Carolina; Melissa Denton Logan (Chris) of Charlotte, North Carolina; Carie Cox Gregory of Greenville, South Carolina; Heather Miller Gecewich (Ben) of Simpsonville, South Carolina; Ethan Richard Williams of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; Rebecca Lee Simmons of Irmo, South Carolina; and Brian Richard Simmons (Danielle) of Greenville, South Carolina; as well as her great-grandchildren, Ryleigh Jo Gilliland; Addison Isabelle Gregory; Leora Rhame Holwegner; Hudson Maxwell Gecewich; Emma Lee Simmons; and Heather Ann Simmons.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Richard (Buddy) Williams of Greenville, South Carolina, her daughter, Patricia Lee Simmons and husband, Gary Simmons, and two grandchildren, Jason Matthew Simmons and Garrett David Williams.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gloria's honor may be made to McCall Hospice House, 1836 W Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680.