Journal founder Betty Wills has passed

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Betty Tribble Wills, who along with her husband Ed, founded The Journal, has passed away. She died Saturday, November 27 in Easley, at age 96. The Wills moved to Williamston in 1955 and founded a new weekly newspaper, The Journal. Following the death of her husband in 1962, the newspaper was sold to William C. Meade. Bill Meade was editor and publisher until his retirement in the early 1990s, when sons David and Richard took over the newspaper and printing business.

Another long time Williamston resident, and early Journal supporter, Olive Lander Wilson, 99, also died this week. Wilson died Monday, Nov. 29 in Anderson. Olive often told us she was the first paid subscriber to The Journal when it was founded by Ed and Betty Wills. She was on the subscriber mail list until 2017, when her daughter Laura began receiving the newspaper in her name.
Both of their obituaries can be found in this week’s print and online issue of The Journal and online obituaries.