LANCASTER, SC ~ Mrs. Mae Bailes Williams, age 92, the beloved wife of the late C. Douglas Williams, died May 21, 2023 at her home. She was the daughter of the late Carl Morris Bailes and the late Annie Louise Clinton Bailes. She was born on November 3, 1930 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Mrs. Williams attended schools in the Rock Hill area through the tenth grade. Her family moved to Lancaster in 1946 where she was a member of the Lancaster High School graduation class of 1947.

In 1946 she joined First Baptist Church in Lancaster, where she participated in all youth activities. Her faith, family, and friends were the main focus of her life. She was involved in all facets of the church. She was a leader of the young children's story hour on Sunday evenings. She taught Sunday School, was a leader in Girls Auxiliary, the director of Acteens, and was a member of the Women's Missionary Union. She taught and served in Vacation Bible School for over 40 years. She followed her desire for teaching children when she joined the teaching staff of First Baptist Church. To benefit her knowledge for working with preschoolers, she participated in training offered annually through the Southern Baptist and the South Carolina State Baptist Conventions at their conference centers in Glorietta, New Mexico, Ridgecrest, North Carolina, and White Oak in Winnsboro, South Carolina. She was promoted to director of First Baptist Church Kindergarten. Under her directorship, the kindergarten became the Weekday Early Education Program (WEE Program). She held this position until her retirement.

She has always been interested in history. She researched, wrote, and had published The Fruitful Four, an in-depth history of First Baptist Church of Lancaster. She was an advocate of historic preservation. While serving as History Committee chairperson, with the help of her committee, she designed and completed a Heritage Room Museum. The museum is her legacy to First Baptist Church where she served as Church Historian for 28 years. The honor of Historian Emeritus was bestowed upon her when she retired.

Mrs. Williams loved to entertain and often hosted events in her home. Holidays were always family time. She loved having family around her. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her great grandchildren and watching them grow.

She is survived by one sister, Dorothy Bailes Price of Gaffney, South Carolina; her two children, Debra Ann Williams Sowell, and Richard Douglas Williams (Laura); two grandsons, Kevin Williams Sowell (Kimberly), and Benjamin Thomas Sowell; and three great-grandchildren, Julia Summer Sowell, Jason William Sowell, and John Mark Sowell, all of Lancaster.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years; Douglas Williams; her parents, Carl and Annie Bailes; her three sisters, Agnes Bailes Roberts, Jane Bailes Watson, and Virginia Bailes Hagan; and one brother, Carl M. Bailes, Jr.

The Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held 12:00pm noon Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at First Baptist Church, 300 South Market Street, Lancaster, SC 29720, officiated by Pastor Randy Hatcher. The burial will be held privately at Westside Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, one hour prior to the service in the church lobby. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Preschool Children's Activity Program or First Baptist Church History Committee, PO Box 670, Lancaster, SC 29721, or to a charity of your choice.

An online guest register is available on the obituaries page at www.burgessfunerals.com.

Burgess Funeral Home & Crematory of Lancaster is caring for the family of Mrs. Mae Williams.