Dr. Marion K. Williiams announced this week that he is a candidate for Ward 1 Town Council in Williamston.
Dr. Williams is a lifelong resident of Williamston. Parents were Earl “Pete” and Margaret Ann Williams.
He is a 1981 graduate of Palmetto High School where he was an honor graduate and Student Body President his senior year. He is a 1985 graduate of Clemson University with a BS degree in Zoology and a 1989 graduate of Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee with a doctorate in Optometry.
Williams is married to Melissa Brazier Williams from Ocala, Florida and they have a daughter Micah and son Matthew.
He joined Eye Care Center in August 1989, opening a new office in Williamston in October 1989. Williams also worked at Powdersville Eye Care Center and served as president of the corporation and managing partner for 32 years.
In April 2021, Eye Care Center merged their three offices with Clemson Eye, where Dr. Williams currently works in the Williamston location full time.
He is currently serving on Williamston Zoning Appeals Board since 2009 and chair of committee for twenty-five years.
Dr. Williams served on Board of Directors for Envision Williamston from 2014 until June 2026 and was chairman of board from 2021-2026.
He is involved with local schools, particularly Palmetto High School. Williams was on the Palmetto Athletic Booster Club for seven years in the 1990’s and again from 2011-2020.
He helped form the Palmetto Block P Alumni organization in 2024 and is currently president. The organization’s mission is to have former Palmetto High athletes give back to current student athletes by providing financial assistance to each individual student’s sport.
Williams is the “Voice of the Mustangs” at home varsity football games, a position he has held for the past ten years. He also announces at home wrestling matches.
Williams officiated high school basketball for twenty years and was inducted into the South Carolina Basketball Officials Hall of Fame in March 2016.
He has been a member of the Piedmont Lions Club for over thirty years and worked with the club to provide vision care and glasses to more than 900 needy individuals in the area.
On June 13, 2024, Dr. Williams was recognized as a Dr. Franklin G. Mason Fellow, one of the highest awards given by Lions Internationally to individuals who have given of themselves for preserving sight in communities.
Dr. Williams is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Williamston serving as deacon, children’s Sunday School teacher for thirty-two years, Stewardship, Recreation and Long-Range Planning committees. He is also a member of the choir and the Indigo Praise ensemble group.
Williams has participated in three Dominican Republic medical mission trips in cooperation with Revision and Calvary Baptist Church. The team has provided eyecare and glasses to over 450 Dominicans during those three trips.
Over the years, Dr. Williams has given of himself with a servant’s heart and wishes to continue to do the same as a town councilman for the Town of Williamston.
He visualizes the town growing and prospering with controlled growth of properties in both the business and residential markets. He would also like to see further development of sidewalk projects within the city limits as well as walking trails, which he said is a priority.
“Recreational opportunities are vital for the health and welfare of the town’s children, youth, and adults,” Williams said. He supports improving parks and ballfields and expansion of facilities as needed as the town grows.
“With population growth continuing, the infrastructures of water, sewer, fire and police protection are a necessity,” Williams said.
He wants to provide these community needs and said “being aggressive with acquiring grants will be paramount to make these items come to fruition.”
“I hope the citizens of Williamston share these priorities and concerns for our town,” Dr. Williams said. “Together with the mayor and the other three ward councilmen, much can be accomplished to make Williamston the town we all want it to be.”
“I ask for your support on election day, November 3. 2026.”
