Camille Phillips Williamson

Camille Easters Phillips passed away peacefully after a long illness on May 1, 2023, in Charleston, South Carolina. She was born in Brunswick, Georgia on May 26, 1929, the middle daughter of George Tharin Phillips and Evelyn Easters Phillips. After her birth, her parents moved to Savannah, Georgia where she grew up with her two sisters, Frances and Gwendolyn who predeceased her. She was a graduate of Savannah High School and attended Armstrong College. In 1948 on New Year’s Eve, she married Tom Williamson in St John’s Episcopal Church in Savannah. Camille and Tom raised their two children in Savannah. In 1971 they moved to St. Simons Island which was Camille’s home until 2018. After Tom’s death in 1990, she married James W. Hall who also predeceased her.

Camille was active with church and community organizations in both Savannah and on St. Simons Island. She was particularly proud of her 49 - year membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her business acumen and organizational skills were key components in the success of the five retail pharmacies, Tom’s Discount Drugs, in southeastern Georgia which were owned and operated by Tom and Camille. She cared greatly about her family and extended family providing support and care for multiple elderly family members. She was generous in both her time and resources and demonstrated a resilience in times of adversity that was notable. However, Camille will be most remembered for her winning smile and her natural graciousness that made everyone feel welcomed. She appreciated the beauty in others and in the world around her. She loved living on the coast and spoke often and fondly of spending time with family and friends at the Beach Club on Sea Island. She will leave a legacy of elegant style and personal warmth that will be remembered by all. Camille was a devoted wife and a loving mother and grandmother. She was a loyal and cherished friend to many and greatly beloved by her family.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Williamson and her husband David Garr of Durham, NC, and her son George Williamson and his wife Elaine Williamson of Punta Gorda Fl, 6 grandchildren - Joshua Garr of Washington, DC, Katherine Byra of Jacksonville, FL, Rebecca Whitaker of Durham, NC, George Williamson of Punta Gorda, FL, Olivia Gillis of Atlanta, GA, and Thomas Williamson of Punta Gorda, FL, and 8 great grandchildren - Camille and Jacob Whitaker, Khloe, Bella, and Liam Byra, , Thomas and Tharin Williamson, and Nora Kate Williamson.

Camille will be buried next to Tom Williamson in the mausoleum at Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens on St Simons Island. A graveside service will be held on May 26, 2023, at 11am with Pastor Bob Kasting of Lord of Life Lutheran Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lutheran Hospice (https://www.lutheranhomesscfoundation.org/donate-now) or to Georgia Public Broadcasting (https://www.gpb.org/support).