Hall of Fame
Williams could be regarded as one of Benedict College's best all-around female athletes. She was a three-sport standout for the Lady Tigers, earning most valuable player awards in volleyball, softball and basketball.
Williams became interested in sports at age eight, when her second grade physical education teacher became a source of inspiration with her wisdom and teaching style. From that point on, Williams knew she wanted to be a physical education teacher and coach as well. She played basketball and softball in middle school, and basketball, volleyball and track in high school. She attended Benedict with the goal to become a teacher.
After her freshman season in volleyball, basketball and softball, she earned Rookie of the Year awards in each sport. Her Benedict coach, Nathaniel Perkins, nicknamed her "Speedy," which stuck with her. During her sophomore year, she was named captain or co-captain for each sport, and was named Most Valuable Player in all three sports. She repeated as volleyball MVP in 1979 ad 1980, and was named MVP in basketball again after the 1980-81 season.
After graduating from Benedict, she began her teaching career at C.C. Blaney Elementary in Hollywood, S.C., teaching fourth grade. Williams then went on to work with emotionally handicapped children for three years at James Island Middle School. At this time she began coaching basketball at St. Johns High School. She coached several sports at Burke High School in 1993 including varsity volleyball, JV girls basketball and varsity softball while teaching physical education at Academic Magnet High School. She then became Athletic Director at Academic Magnet High School while coaching JV and varsity volleyball, varsity girls basketball and varsity softball. She kept that position for nine years until deciding to spend more time coaching and working with children rather than being tied down to the administrative duties of being an athletic director, and returned to coaching.
She now coaches varsity girls volleyball and JV girls basketball, as well as directing camps for student athletes during the summer.
