Rice Festival Parade

Mrs. Clara May Thomas Williams celebrated her 99th birthday in 2025. Born in Springtown, she attended Springtown Methodist Church and attended Colleton Training School. Mrs. Clara explains, “I was born right there on 61. My brother was born there. My daddy had migrated from Sumter. My mama had a good husband, and the Lord blessed me with a good daddy for my children." Clara married Ben Williams in 1950, and they were together until his death in 1976 in Vietnam. We got married, but let me tell you, I didn’t marry him, the first time he asked me. The first time he asked me, was August 8. He came and walked from my church, that’s always been my church." Mrs. Clara worked at the original Glass House Restaurant, the basket factory, and the restaurant at the bus station.. She is very involved in the community, particularly at Mount Ebenezer Baptist Church. Mrs. Clara emphasized her hard work, dedication, and the importance of honesty and faith in her long life. She had four children who all attended College: Tony attended Holy Cross, Linda went to Winthrop, Eleanor to South Carolina State University, and Valerie attended Orangeburg State University.