Daryl Williams Obituary

Daryl Lloyd Williams, age 74, of Columbia, SC passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Born on April 17, 1951, in Memphis, TN to Lloyd Godfrey and Martha Jeanette Williams. Daryl grew up in Nashville. Daryl graduated from Davidson College, where he served as president of his fraternity. In January of 1972, he wisely agreed to a blind date with a young woman from Queens College, who would forever change the course of his life-Stephanie DuBose of Clinton, SC, beginning a romance that would last over a half-century. The couple married and settled in Columbia, where Daryl graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He was a member of the South Carolina Law Review and the Order of Wig and Robe. Daryl proudly practiced law in Columbia for nearly five decades. Stephanie was Daryl's closest friend and constant companion. Their bond only deepened as they navigated the joys and challenges of raising their three sons – Stephen, Jamie, and Matt. Daryl's greatest joy was his family. He was an ever-present father, who nurtured his relationship with each son by fully sharing in their individual passions. To his three daughters-in-law, he was a patient listener, and a source of wisdom and constant encouragement. As his family grew with the addition of five grandchildren: Hayes, Monte, Emilia Grace, Dottie, and Sasha, so too did Daryl's happiness. He adored being their beloved "Pops," and he delighted in seeing each of his sons experience the same joy of fatherhood that he relished so deeply. Daryl's life was also rooted in his faith and service to Eastminster Presbyterian Church (EPC) as a deacon and Sunday School Superintendent. For years, he volunteered on the diamond at Palmetto Baseball League and the basketball courts at EPC. Naturally, he became known to many around Columbia simply as "Coach." He found deep fulfillment in helping young people grow in both confidence and character, and he is lovingly remembered for the respect, dignity, and lightheartedness with which he treated every player. Always a champion of the underdog, he was notorious for drawing up plays designed to give his teams' lesser skilled athletes the chance to shine. When he was not at a grandchild's activity or Gamecocks Women's Basketball games with his wife, Daryl was an avid reader, artist, and amateur chef known for his spectacular pancakes. His spirit of encouragement, devotion, and joy in the success of others is the legacy Daryl leaves behind, carried forward in his family, his community, and all who were fortunate enough to know him. He is survived by his wife Stephanie DuBose Williams; his brother Ken Alan Williams; his children, Stephen DuBose (Melissa Jurkiewicz) of Macon, GA, James Lloyd "Jamie" (Meredith) of Columbia, SC, and Dillard Matthews "Matt" (Margaret Strom Williams) of Columbia, SC. His grandchildren are Hayes Lloyd, Montague James, Emilia Grace, and Dorothy Strom Williams of Columbia, and Sasha Marie Jurkiewicz-Williams of Macon. He was also proudly, Uncle Daryl to his nephews and nieces, Anna Bell (Jason), Mitchell (Lyndsey), Chip (Karen), Rick (Hope). He is predeceased by his mother, father, and beloved sisters-in-law. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204. A visitation will immediately follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Daryl's memory to consider a donation to one of the organizations close to his heart: Eastminster Presbyterian Church, where he faithfully served; South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, advancing fairness and justice through the law; or ABLE South Carolina, empowering individuals with disabilities to live fully and independently. The arrangements are entrusted to Shives Funeral Home.