Rosa Cashion Williams

Rosa Cashion Williams, 98, died Tuesday September 8, 2026. She was born February 21, 1928, in Columbia and adopted by Rosa Green Cashion and Everett L Cashion Sr. on November 28, 1928, and grew up surrounded by family and love.

Music was always an integral part of Rosa’s life. Rosa’s mother loved music and taught piano and had” Little Rosa” sitting by her side at the age of 9 months. During her pre-teen years, she enjoyed participating in the Junior Stage Society of Columbia’s Town Theater. From two of their productions, Heidi and The Drunkard, the reviews read, “Little Rosa Cashion won the heart of everyone, offstage and on, by her portrayal of the title role” in Heidi. For her role in The Drunkard, it was written, “Rosa Cashion as Little Julia, golden-haired and sweet-voiced, is a child from heaven”.

Rosa graduated Columbia High, receiving the class superlative of “Most Talented”. She attended Limestone College before transferring to University of South Carolina to pursue a major in Voice where she met her husband, Eddie Meek Williams, Jr. It was said that their voices were the kind that can sing solos, but blend with the choir as well. Rosa and Eddie married in August 1946 in the Little Brown Chapel of Eau Claire Presbyterian. Love of music brought them together and they shared that love with others through church choirs for over 140 years combined.

In addition to singing in the choir, Rosa was devoted to Missions work and that love for missions helped inspire her son, Dr. Eddie Williams, to devote his early medical career to medical missions in then Zaire, now Congo. Rosa also served the church visiting members hospitalized and “shut-in”. She enjoyed participating in Women of the Church and was President of the Women of the Church in four churches and served as an elder and was the first female Clerk of the Session at Eastminster Presbyterian and was awarded an honorary life membership by Eastminster’s Women of the Church. One wrote, “Dear Rosa, You are, in my opinion, the ideal W.O,C, president. Your Christian commitment, your zeal, your cheerful manner, your concern for the individual member, your ability as a presiding officer, your unfailing expressions of gratitude, your encouragement and strong cooperation – all these- have made working with you a distinct pleasure and privilege.”

Rosa was active in the Eau Claire Garden Club, Eau Claire Music Club, Columbia Women’s Symphony Association and Columbia Evening Music Club. She was an avid walker and is remembered, by many, as the fast walker with the friendly smile and wave of her hand to greet fellow walkers at Columbiana Mall, in the early morning hours, for over 25 years.

Rosa was a most wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She deeply loved her family, and they were the joy of her life. For over 35 years, she continued her mother’s tradition of hosting her children, grands and great grands for dinner after church in her home each Sunday. She loved decorating her home for all the holidays to delight her family. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Eddie M. Williams, Jr. and her son, Dr. Eddie M. Williams, III, and her brother Everett L. Cashion Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Jane (Terry) Wood of Durham, NC; her son John (Debbie) Williams of Columbia; daughter, Laura Williams Cowan of Columbia; daughters in law, Kathie Williams and Vickie Williams. She is also survived by grandchildren, Leigh (Chris) Morgan, Tracy (William) Kimbrell, Adam (Lauri) Williams, Sarah (Andrew) Lin, Rebecca (Nate) Herring, Melanie (Jason) Knox, Elizabeth Braxton, and Hayley (Chad) Bates. Additionally, she is survived by great-grandchildren, Coleman (Riley) Hilton, Cayden (Blaine) Williams, Luke Hilton, Tucker Williams, Duke Kimbrell, Logan Williams, Rosaleigh Wells, Cashion Wells, Ellie Herring, Cashion Bates, Adelaide Herring, Claire (Pat) Mann, and great-great grandchild Jay Mann.

Some of Rosa’s recollections are recorded in an interview from March of 2022, for the “Irmo Area Oral History Project”, a joint effort of two local churches, McGregor Presbyterian Church and Pine Grove AME Church, with funding from the SC Humanities Council and housed in the SC Archives.

Rosa will to be remembered as someone who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. She believed she was blessed by Him for her entire life and tried to show others His Love.

The family expresses appreciation to the staff of Lighthouse Hospice and the many members of McGregor Presbyterian Church for their loving support.

A service of the Witness to the Resurrection will be held at McGregor Presbyterian Church at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 20, 2026. The family will greet friends in the Glenn Hall after the Service.

Rosa supported many charities/organizations. For those seeking guidance in choosing memorials, the family suggests: McGregor Presbyterian Church, Thornwell Home for Children, Shriners Hospital for Children.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family.